Alzheimer's disease & MCI

Question 1

What does it mean to have early-stage Alzheimer's, and how might it affect daily life?

Accepted Answer

Alzheimer's disease is a brain illness that slowly affects memory and thinking. It is the most common form of dementia. Dementia is a brain disorder that affects thinking and memory skills. Alzheimer's disease begins slowly and develops over many years. It first involves the parts of the brain that control thought. These parts also handle memory and language. This is different from normal memory changes that come with aging. Early in the disease, a person may have trouble remembering recent events. They may also forget names of people they know. They may get lost in familiar places or repeat the same question. They may have trouble speaking, reading, or writing. They may also forget to bathe or eat well. They may have trouble using a phone or finding their way home. These changes can make everyday tasks harder. Over time, the symptoms tend to get worse. This can be hard on family members too. Your care team can help explain what these changes mean for daily life. They can also talk about support that may help.

Question 2

What is MCI (mild cognitive impairment), and does it always lead to Alzheimer's disease?

Accepted Answer

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) means more memory trouble than other people your age have. People with MCI can still care for themselves and do daily tasks. Common signs include losing things often and forgetting appointments. Finding the right word can also be harder. Other things can cause memory trouble too, like certain medicines. Diseases that affect blood vessels in the brain can also cause it. Some of these other causes can be managed or even reversed. A doctor can test your thinking, memory, and language skills. You may be sent to a specialist for more testing. MCI may be an early sign of Alzheimer's disease. This does not mean MCI always leads to Alzheimer's disease. Your care team can check your memory for changes over time. Right now, there is no proven drug treatment for MCI. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia in older people. Dementia is a brain disorder that seriously affects thinking and memory. Alzheimer's begins slowly and is not a normal part of aging. It first affects the parts of the brain for thought, memory, and language. Its symptoms get worse over time. It is normal to forget small things once in a while. Talk with your care team if your

Question 3

What tests or scans do doctors use to diagnose Alzheimer's disease?

Accepted Answer

Doctors use thinking, memory, and language tests to check for memory problems. People who forget things more often than others their age may have mild cognitive impairment, or MCI. Memory problems can have many different causes. These include certain medicines, a stroke, depression, or head injuries. Blood clots or growths in the brain can also affect memory. So can kidney, liver, or thyroid problems. Testing helps your care team find the real cause. Some causes can be managed or even reversed. Alzheimer's disease is not a normal part of aging. It can be mistaken for normal aging changes at first. MCI can sometimes be an early sign of Alzheimer's disease. Depending on the results, you may need to see a specialist for more tests. If you are worried about forgetfulness, talk with your care team. They can do tests. They also check for changes in your memory and thinking over time.

Question 4

How can someone with Alzheimer's communicate their wishes before memory loss gets worse?

Accepted Answer

Sharing your wishes early matters because Alzheimer's disease symptoms get worse over time. Alzheimer's disease (AD) begins slowly and changes how the brain works. As it progresses, a person may have more trouble speaking, reading, or writing. Over time, a person may eventually need total care. Telling your family your wishes early can help them understand you. This works best while you can still communicate clearly. Some people first notice changes in memory called mild cognitive impairment, or MCI. MCI means more memory trouble than is normal for a person's age. MCI may be an early sign of Alzheimer's disease. Seeing your care team regularly can help track changes over time. Your care team can also help you think about planning ahead.

Question 5

How is Alzheimer's disease different from the normal memory changes that come with aging?

Accepted Answer

Forgetting small things now and then is a normal part of aging. You might forget a name, misplace your keys, or wonder about the door. It's also normal to take longer to remember things as you age. Alzheimer's disease is different — it is not a normal part of aging. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia in older adults. Dementia is a brain disorder that seriously affects thinking and memory skills. Alzheimer's begins slowly, over many years. It can be mistaken for normal aging at first. But it is not a normal part of aging. It first affects the parts of the brain that control thought, memory, and language. Over time, the brain changes get worse, and symptoms get worse too. People with Alzheimer's may have trouble remembering recent events or familiar names. They may get lost in places they know well. They may repeat the same question or not recognize family members. They may also have trouble speaking, reading, or writing. Some older adults have more memory trouble than other people their age. This is called mild cognitive impairment, or MCI. People with MCI can still take care of themselves and do their normal daily activities. MCI may be an early sign of Al

Question 6

What can someone with MCI or early Alzheimer's do to stay safe at home?

Accepted Answer

Keeping someone with MCI or early Alzheimer's safe at home is a common worry. Your care team can help your family make a plan. People with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) can usually still take care of themselves. They can do their normal day-to-day activities. MCI can still cause memory problems. A person may lose things often or forget appointments. Alzheimer's disease can bring other changes that affect safety. A person may get lost in places they know well. They may have trouble knowing family members. Later on, some people with Alzheimer's may feel anxious or act aggressive. Some may wander away from home. In time, they need full-time care. Forgetting how to find your way home can be a sign of something serious. This is more serious than normal aging. It is worth telling a doctor about this. Your care team will tell you what to watch for. They can help you plan for home safety as things change. Talk with your care team about any new changes in memory or behavior.

Question 7

What do families need to know about driving when someone has Alzheimer's disease?

Accepted Answer

Many families want to understand how Alzheimer's disease may affect driving. Alzheimer's disease is a brain disorder that affects thinking and memory skills. It can make it harder to complete daily activities over time. A common symptom is getting lost in places that are familiar. Symptoms of Alzheimer's disease tend to get worse as time goes on. A person's behavior can also vary from day to day. Because of these changes, many families talk with the care team about driving. The care team can help think through whether driving is still safe. Your care team can tell you what to watch for. They can also tell you when to call.

Question 8

What everyday tasks become harder with MCI or early Alzheimer's, and how can someone manage them?

Accepted Answer

Mild cognitive impairment, or MCI, and Alzheimer's disease can make everyday tasks harder. Some forgetfulness is a normal part of aging. MCI means having more memory problems than other people your age. People with MCI can usually still take care of themselves. They can usually still do their normal activities. Common MCI problems include losing things often and forgetting appointments. People with MCI may also struggle to find the right word. Right now, there is no drug treatment proven to work for MCI. Alzheimer's disease is different from MCI. It can affect your ability to reason or learn new skills. Over time, daily activities become difficult to complete. Dementia is a brain disorder that seriously affects thinking and memory. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia in older adults. People with Alzheimer's may get lost in familiar places. They may repeat the same question again and again. They may not recognize family members or have trouble speaking, reading, or writing. They may stop bathing or eating well. Later on, they may become anxious or aggressive, or wander away from home. Eventually they need total care, which can be very stressful for family caregiv

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