Many do not recognise early signs of Alzheimer's disease

NEW YORK, Dec 24 1999 (Reuters Health) -- A majority of Americans believe that everyday acts of forgetfulness -- such as misplacing the car keys -- can be early warning signs of Alzheimer's disease. Popular misconceptions like these have led experts at the Alzheimer's Association to launch an educational campaign outlining the "10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer's Disease."

"We want families to recognise changes in behaviour and be able to identify the warning signs of Alzheimer's disease so they can take appropriate action," explained Association board member Dr. Eric Tangalos.

A recent Association survey of 1,000 American adults found that many confuse aspects of normal ageing with the early signs of Alzheimer's disease. For example, two thirds of respondents agreed that "forgetting what you had for breakfast" might be a clue to early Alzheimer's, while another 40% to 50% thought that forgetting keys, phone numbers, or proper names was a warning sign of Alzheimer's.

Experts disagree, however, pointing out that forgetfulness can strike at any age and gradual increases in memory loss come as an inevitable part of the normal ageing process.

"Particularly disturbing" to the Alzheimer's Association was the fact that two thirds of respondents could not identify the actual warning signs of early Alzheimer's disease. These include:

• Difficulties in carrying out familiar tasks. This goes beyond mere distraction (i.e., forgetting to turn off the oven). Instead, people with early Alzheimer's "could prepare a meal, and not only forget to serve it, but also forget they made it," according to an Association statement.
• Language difficulties. All of us forget the proper words for things from time to time. In contrast, Alzheimer's patients often create inconsistent or inappropriate combinations of words, producing garbled or 'nonsense' sentences.
• Disorientation. Persons with early Alzheimer's can lose their sense of time and place, imagining themselves living at a different time period, or feeling lost while walking down a familiar street.
• Misplacing objects. We all forget where we put our wallet or glasses from time to time. Persons with Alzheimer's misplace things in more extreme ways - putting a shoe in the refrigerator, for example.
• Personality changes. Alzheimer's can trigger swift, unexplained changes in mood, from upbeat happiness to sudden outbursts of anger or fear. At other times, persons with Alzheimer's can appear passive and disinterested, requiring prodding to get re-involved in daily activities.

These and other disease cues are described in the Alzheimer's Association's free educational booklet, "Is It Alzheimer's? Warning Signs You Should Know," available by visiting the (US) Association's website at http://www.alz.org.

Experts agree that early detection of Alzheimer's disease remains crucial, since early treatment may help slow progression of the disease. "Current treatments provide symptomatic relief," explained Dr. Bill Thies, vice president for medical and scientific affairs at the Alzheimer's Association. "That's why it's important now to teach families how to recognise the warning signs." However, he stressed that "although... there have been recent breakthroughs in Alzheimer's research, a cure or true prevention may be years away."

Tangalos advises that if relatives or friends detect signs of Alzheimer's in a loved one, they first "see their physician" regarding a proper diagnosis, and, if need be, begin "discussing plans for the future" regarding long-term treatment and care.