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Q: What are the signs and symptoms of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease?
A: One of the first Alzheimer's disease symptoms is short-term memory loss. People with Alzheimer's disease may recall an experience from high school but forget what they had for dinner.
People with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease may also:
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Forget basic things, like familiar people's names, frequently used telephone numbers, or what year it is |
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Get lost in familiar places |
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Misplace items more often than usual |
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Lose their train of thought during conversations |
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Repeat things frequently |
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Become more anxious, suspicious, or cautious |
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Lose interest in activities that they used to enjoy |
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Find it difficult to make basic decisions |
Older individuals who are depressed, lack vitamin B12, or have a thyroid condition may have some of these symptoms but not have Alzheimer's disease. Symptoms that are caused by Alzheimer's disease become worse over time and are usually more severe.
Q: How is a diagnosis of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease made?
A: There is no single test that will diagnose Alzheimer's disease. In order to diagnose Alzheimer's disease, your loved one's doctor must rule out other possible causes of symptoms, such as forgetfulness. A complete evaluation helps determine whether Alzheimer's disease is the cause of a person's symptoms.
To diagnose Alzheimer's disease, the healthcare professional may take a medical history. He or she will probably ask about:
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Medications that are being taken |
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Past and present medical problems |
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Past operations |
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Any mental health problems |
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Use of alcohol |
The healthcare professional may also:
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Carry out a complete physical exam |
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Take urine or blood samples, or both |
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Carry out memory and psychological tests to see how well the brain is working |
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Order a brain scan (like a computerized tomography scan) |
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