One of my best girlfriends asked me if losing her “readers” was a normal sign of aging. She can’t recall how many pairs of drugstore reading glasses she’s purchased and lost. She has no idea where they go, but suspects that she has left them on store counters, at restaurants after looking at the menu, or thrown them out with the Sunday paper. I don’t believe that inattentiveness is all that worrisome.

But, for some, times of forgetfulness could be the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease – a disease of the brain that begins slowly and gets worse over time.

In the United States, an estimated 5.4 million people (1 in 8 people) are living with Alzheimer’s disease. According to the Alzheimer’s Association’s 2012 Alzheimer ’s Disease Facts and Figures report, in 2010 there were 110,000 people in Wisconsin age 65 and older with Alzheimer’s – a 10% increase from the year 2000. It’s estimated that by 2025 130,000 Wisconsinites will have the disease – a 30% increase from 2000!

What is Alzheimer’s disease?

Alzheimer’s disease is an illness of the brain. It causes large numbers of nerve cells in the brain to die. This affects a person’s ability to remember things, think clearly, and use good judgment. Doctors don’t know what causes the disease. They do know that most of the time it begins after age 60.

What happens when a person has Alzheimer’s disease?

Alzheimer’s disease often starts slowly. In fact, some people don’t know they have it. They blame their forgetfulness on old age. However, over time, their memory problems get more serious. People with Alzheimer’s disease have trouble doing everyday things like driving a car, cooking a meal, or paying bills. They may get lost easily and find even simple things confusing. Some people become worried, angry, or violent. As the illness gets worse, most people with Alzheimer’s disease need someone to take care of all their needs, including feeding and bathing. Some people with Alzheimer’s live at home with a caregiver. Other people with the disease live in a nursing home.

What are the signs of Alzheimer’s disease?

It’s important to know the signs of Alzheimer’s disease so that you can get help right away.

Early signs:

 Finding it hard to remember things

 Asking the same questions over and over

 Having trouble paying bills or solving simple math problems

 Getting lost

 Losing things or putting them in odd places

Later signs:

 Forgetting how to brush your teeth or comb your hair

 Being confused about time, people and places

 Forgetting the names of common things such as a desk or apple.

 Wandering away from home