Your Mind Your Body

Hello Everyone,

Welcome to the very first post for the Aging & Caregiving section of Your Mind Your Body. It is my hope that this blog will be an opportunity for us to discuss many of the different issues that older adults are facing today. We will be discussing topics about physical and mental health issues that are of specific interest to the elderly, as well as the caregivers and loved ones who support them in so many ways.

I would like to start the blog off by mentioning a new educational campaign that was started by the Alzheimer’s Association titled “Know the 10 signs of Alzheimer’s Disease.” The purpose of this program is to try to increase early detection and diagnosis of the disease, giving those with the early symptoms the power and opportunity to make decisions about their health and future. The 10 signs are as follows:

1. Memory changes that disrupt life
2. Challenges in planning or solving problems
3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work, or at leisure
4. Confusion with time or place
5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
6. New problems with words in speaking or writing
7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
8. Decreased or poor judgment
9. Withdrawal from work or social activities
10. Changes in mood and personality

There are a couple of things to consider when examining the list. First, it is not unusual for someone to experience one or two of the symptoms at some point in everyday life. The Alzheimer’s Association tries to distinguish between the symptoms that are common versus those that could suggest something more serious by providing a useful checklist on their website. For example, some forgetfulness is a part of normal life, however, if the symptoms become more common, or if they begin to interfere with your day-to-day functioning at home or at work, it could be worth discussing them with your physican.

I hope you enjoyed this content, and please let me know if you have any comments about this post, or if there are any topics you would be interested in blogging about in the future.

Filed under: Aging