Could My Memory Lapses Be Alzheimer's Disease?

As we get older, many of us start to worry about our memory. We wonder, "Where did I leave my glasses?" "Why did I walk into this room?" We grasp for words that are on the tip of our tongue. It takes us a few minutes to remember the name of our favorite restaurant. Our kids roll their eyes – “Mom, we talked about this the other day! Don’t you remember?”

So how do you know if these symptoms are normal aging or something more serious? There are some signs that can indicate it’s time to get your memory checked out by a doctor.

Is Alzheimer’s disease the same as dementia?

Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia. Dementia is an umbrella term. It means a person has a problem with memory and thinking that is severe enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia in older adults, but it is not the only cause. You can also develop dementia as a result of conditions like stroke, Parkinson’s disease or other disorders that impact the brain.

What are the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's disease?

Alzheimer’s disease is unique from other types of dementia in that it primarily impacts your brain’s ability to form new memories.

Usually, people have no trouble remembering events that happened a long time ago, but they become forgetful of recent events. They may repeat themselves, or not recall a recent conversation with a family member. They may misplace things more frequently, or have trouble with familiar tasks, like operating the remote or balancing a checkbook. Word finding can become more difficult. They may get lost while driving. Over time, people can show decreased judgment and may become more impulsive or vulnerable to scams.

Eventually, people can become disoriented – that is, they may lose track of what year it is, or be unable to recognize their surroundings. Their sleep cycle may become disrupted, and they may mix up days and nights. Often, these cognitive changes are accompanied by mood changes as well. People may begin to seem withdrawn, anxious, or irritable. Alzheimer’s is a slow-moving disease, and symptoms typically develop over the course of several years. If your symptoms started rapidly, it is more likely something else is going on.

How do I know if I’m at risk of developing Alzheimer's disease?

The greatest known risk factor is age. The older we get, the higher our risk. The vast majority of people with Alzheimer’s disease are over the age of 65. So if you’re 45 and noticing some memory lapses, the chances that you have Alzheimer’s disease are low. But if you’re 85, we need to pay more attention.

There is also a genetic component. A family history of Alzheimer’s disease, particularly on your mother’s side, can increase your risk, but it is not a guarantee that you will develop it.

We also know that certain lifestyle factors, like smoking or poor cardiovascular health, seem to make our brain tissue more vulnerable to developing Alzheimer’s disease. Even factors like untreated depression can increase our risk.

How is Alzheimer’s disease diagnosed?

When you see your doctor, there is no one test that can diagnose Alzheimer’s with 100% certainty. Instead, Alzheimer’s disease is diagnosed through a series of clinical tests and evaluations.

First, your doctor will need to rule out other conditions that impact the brain. Your doctor may order a brain scan, such as an MRI or CT scan, to look for strokes, brain tumors or other problems with brain tissue. In the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, CT or MRI are often normal. Sometimes, the brain will show mild atrophy or shrinkage. In some instances, they may order a PET scan, which is a more specialized type of neuroimaging. They will probably order blood work to check your vitamin levels. They will ask about other factors that interfere with cognition, such as stress, chronic pain, poor sleep or medication side effects. Finally, they will do a physical and neurological examination.

If other causes have been ruled out, you may be referred to a neuropsychologist, who will conduct a thorough interview with you and your family, and then conduct a series of in-depth cognitive tests to see if the pattern of scores is consistent with Alzheimer’s disease. They will also provide you with comprehensive recommendations about what to expect and what you can do about it.

How is Alzheimer's disease treated?

If you or a loved one are given a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, it can be a very scary moment. But there are a lot of things we can do, and we have a team of people ready to help you through the process.

There is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, although there is always research ongoing. Current medications can temporarily slow the progression, but they don’t stop it. Instead, treatment focuses on symptom management so that we can ensure a good quality of life for both persons with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers.

In order to slow the decline, it is important to manage the lifestyle risk factors mentioned earlier, such as diet, exercise, and smoking. A healthy heart makes for a healthy brain, so we want to take good care of any cardiovascular conditions. We also want to make sure any stress or anxiety is adequately treated.

One important component that is often overlooked is the importance of staying cognitively active. Treat your brain like a muscle, and take it to the gym! There is no one activity that is right for everyone – as long as you are continuing to challenge yourself, you’re on the right track. Maybe that means doing a daily crossword puzzle, joining a book club, taking a cooking class, or learning a new language. Not only do these activities help keep your brain healthy, they also increase your quality of life.

When should I talk to someone about my symptoms?

There are (unfortunately!) a lot of normal changes that occur in our brains with age. We can’t run as fast as we did when we were young, and our brains don’t work quite as fast either. We get a little more forgetful as we age, and we can find ourselves searching for words more often. If we are feeling stressed or aren’t sleeping well or are on a lot of medications, it is normal to feel a little duller from a cognitive standpoint.

But Alzheimer’s disease is NOT a part of normal aging. If your symptoms are starting to interfere with your ability to live your life or if your loved ones are concerned, it is definitely time to tell your doctor.