When I read the article in Everyday Health, Poor Memory Tied to Sleep Woes in Aging Women, and its possible connection with Alzheimer’s, my thoughts turned to my mom who developed this disease.  For years, before I recognized that Mother was in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, my dad would remark, “Your mother is up all hours of the night, reading, writing, baking.  She only sleeps for a short time.”
When I’d say something to Mother, she would reply, “I don’t see any sense wasting time lying there if I can’t sleep.”
Mother probably did get adequate sleep over the course of 24 …read more

For older adults, difficulty identifying common odors may indicate an increased risk of developing diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.
An article recently published in the Archives of General Psychiatry documents a study by the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago that looked at the correlation between smell and mental impairment. The study tested nearly 600 people ranging in age from 54 to 100 over a period of five years on their ability to identify 12 familiar odors (onion, lemon, cinnamon, black pepper, chocolate, rose, banana, pineapple, soap, paint thinner, gasoline, and smoke)
The results:
“The people who made at least four errors on …read more

Depression is a common occurrence with people suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease, especially amongst those who are able to realize that their memory and normal functioning abilities are worsening.
Identifying depression in someone suffering from Alzheimer’s disease is difficult as dementia itself can create many of the signs and symptoms commonly associated with depression.
Doctors, therefore, have to rely heavily on nonverbal clues such as:
- apathy
- expressing feelings of worthlessness and sadness
- change in sleeping patterns
- loss of appetite and losing weight
- extreme emotional reactions (ie inappropriate or unusually emotional crying, anger, or agitation)
- refusal to participate in their own personal cares (ie …read more

On her Genetics & Health Blog, Hsien Hsien Lei, PhD talks about some of the latest genetic research as it regards Alzheimer’s and mutations in the presenilins genes 1 and 2.  Check this out at: http://www.geneticsandhealth.com/2006/09/21/presenilins-genes-and-alzheimers-disease   
You’ll discover additional information about the possibility of Alzheimer’s symptoms arising from mutant genes at: www.forbes.com/forbeslife/health/feeds/hscout/2006/09/19/hscout534916.html
Don’t be discouraged if you don’t understand articles and research that gets fairly detailed or scientific.  I’m trying to find information for readers with a variety of knowledge and interests and caregiving levels.  I’m pleased we’re beginning to find so much research going on with this disease.

A word that comes up when we’re discussing dementia and Alzheimer’s is “sundowning.” 
What is that? I’m asked.
In late afternoon or evening, Alzheimer’s symptoms often seem to become worse.  The person with Alzheimer’s may become more restless, confused, disagreeable, agitated, and paranoid late in the day.  Doctors don’t know exactly why it occurs and what causes it; however, it exists, more pronounced in some people than others, or more intense at one stage of Alzheimer’s than another.
Doctors wonder if the dimmer light has something to do with it. Or is it tiredness, too busy a schdeule, overstimulation and other situations?
My mom’s …read more

The Alzheimer’s Screener is an additional resource to aid you in recognizing a family member’s Alzheimer’s symptoms or in deciding whether to check with a doctor or research further for a family member.
Visit the Aricept site (www.aricept.com) and go through the check list or screening to learn more about Alzheimer’s symptoms.

Q – After reading the post about the 10 most common symptoms of Alzheimer’s, a reader asked how one knows when these are merely absentmindedness and not Alzheimer’s.
A – Unfortunately there isn’t an absolute answer or diagnosis of Alzheimer’s.  However, if these symptoms persist and aren’t something occasional, check with your doctor, an organization like the Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org  (for further information), or other Alzheimer’s specialists.
My mother at first exhibited absentmindedness which my father recognized as something different than merely forgetting.  Because I didn’t live with her and saw her about once a month at that time, I simply thought it …read more

Several warning signs or symptoms serve as indicators that a person might be developing Alzheimer’s disease.  One or two alone isn’t reason to panic.  However, when a number of these occur, you might want to get more input.
The Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org) has information regarding these warning signs on their web site, as well as in brochures you can obtain.
I’ll briefly mention ten of the warning signs or symptoms the Alzheimer’s Association has listed.  Check them out more fully on their site.
*More than normal memory loss
*Experiencing difficulty performing familiar tasks
*Having problems with language and remembering words
*Disorientation regarding time and place
*Increasingly poor judgment
*Difficulties …read more