Photos courtesy of the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement at Cleveland Clinic
Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement at Cleveland Clinic
Guide: Alzheimer’s or Aging?
You forgot the keys, and can’t remember where you put them. Or that friend from childhood, with the freckles—what was her name again? As you age, perhaps you’ve noticed the occasional memory lapse—or seen this in an elderly loved one. It’s inevitable, right? All par for the course of life…
Not always. In honor of Women’s Health Month this May, the experts at the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement at Cleveland Clinic, our #VBGIVESBACK partner, share tips on how to tell the difference between what’s normal aging and what’s a warning sign.
The Signs
1. LANGUAGE TROUBLE
Typical aging may look like: Occasionally needing to pause to find the words you’re searching for.
Talk to your doctor if: You are reluctant to talk with friends or family because coming up with the words is challenging.
Typical aging may look like: Occasionally needing to pause to find the words you’re searching for.
Talk to your doctor if: You are reluctant to talk with friends or family because coming up with the words is challenging.
2. MISPLACING ITEMS
Typical aging may look like: At times misplacing items like your keys, glasses or a book.
Talk to your doctor if: You begin to misplace items with increasing frequency.
Typical aging may look like: At times misplacing items like your keys, glasses or a book.
Talk to your doctor if: You begin to misplace items with increasing frequency.
3. SHORT-TERM MEMORY LOSS
Typical aging may look like: Forgetting you had an appointment, but then remembering it later.
Talk to your doctor if: You regularly forget appointments or having specific conversations.
Typical aging may look like: Forgetting you had an appointment, but then remembering it later.
Talk to your doctor if: You regularly forget appointments or having specific conversations.
4. FORGETFULNESS
Typical aging may look like: Struggling to remember the name of someone you just met.
Talk to your doctor if: You forget the names of close friends and/or family members.
Typical aging may look like: Struggling to remember the name of someone you just met.
Talk to your doctor if: You forget the names of close friends and/or family members.
5. PERSONALITY CHANGES
Typical aging may look like: Becoming irritable or anxious if your routine is interrupted; wanting to be less social.
Talk to your doctor if: You start having unwarranted emotional outbursts.
Typical aging may look like: Becoming irritable or anxious if your routine is interrupted; wanting to be less social.
Talk to your doctor if: You start having unwarranted emotional outbursts.
Women in their 60s are 2x more likely to develop Alzheimer's than breast cancer.
6. CHANGES IN REASONING
Typical aging may look like: You’re a little slower at processing information when making decisions.
Talk to your doctor if: You notice you have a hard time making decisions or problem solving.
Typical aging may look like: You’re a little slower at processing information when making decisions.
Talk to your doctor if: You notice you have a hard time making decisions or problem solving.
7. CHALLENGES WITH DAILY TASKS
Typical aging may look like: Occasionally forgetting to pay a bill or to take your medication.
Talk to your doctor if: Tasks like paying bills, driving, cleaning or shopping become a challenge to complete.
Typical aging may look like: Occasionally forgetting to pay a bill or to take your medication.
Talk to your doctor if: Tasks like paying bills, driving, cleaning or shopping become a challenge to complete.
8. ATTENTION SPAN
Typical aging may look like: Walking into a room and forgetting why.
Talk to your doctor if: You lose focus easily, or are easily distracted.
Typical aging may look like: Walking into a room and forgetting why.
Talk to your doctor if: You lose focus easily, or are easily distracted.
9. LOSING SENSE OF TIME
Typical aging may look like: Forgetting what day of the week it is, but then remembering.
Talk to your doctor if: You struggle to remember what year it is, or start losing sense of the passage of time.
Typical aging may look like: Forgetting what day of the week it is, but then remembering.
Talk to your doctor if: You struggle to remember what year it is, or start losing sense of the passage of time.
10. CHALLENGES WITH PLANNING OR PROBLEM-SOLVING
Typical aging may look like: Forgetting to invite a certain friend or relative to a family gathering.
Talk to your doctor if: Planning a family gathering becomes confusing or overwhelming.
Typical aging may look like: Forgetting to invite a certain friend or relative to a family gathering.
Talk to your doctor if: Planning a family gathering becomes confusing or overwhelming.
From now to the end of June, we will donate a portion of proceeds from every single veronicabeard.com order to the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement at Cleveland Clinic, which is changing the future for women and Alzheimer’s through prevention, research, education and advocacy. Learn more about the partnership here. #VBGIVESBACK
