World Alzheimer’s Day, September 21st of each year, is a day on which Alzheimer’s organizations around the world concentrate their efforts on raising awareness about Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Alzheimer's disease (AD), also known as just Alzheimer's, is a brain disease that causes a slow decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills. Is the most common form of dementia, a group of disorders that impairs mental functioning.

There are 10 warning signs and symptoms.

Every individual may experience one or more of these signs in a different

degree.

If you notice any of them, please see a doctor.

Warning signs and symptoms

1. Memory loss affecting day-to-day abilities – forgetting things often or struggling to retain new information.

2. Problems with abstract thinking – not understanding what numbers signify on a calculator, for example, or how they’re used.

3. Difficulty performing familiar tasks – forgetting how to do something you’ve been doing your whole life, such as preparing a meal or getting dressed.

4. Disorientation in time and space – not knowing what day of the week it is or getting lost in a familiar place.

5. Problems with abstract thinking – not understanding what numbers signify on a calculator, for example, or how they’re used.

6. Problems with language – forgetting words or substituting words that don’t fit the context.

7. Misplacing things – putting things in strange places, like an iron in the freezer or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl.

8. Impaired judgment – not recognizing a medical problem that needs attention or wearing light clothing on a cold day.

9. Loss of initiative – losing interest in friends, family and favourite activities.

10. Changes in mood and behaviour – exhibiting severe mood swings from being easy-going to quick-tempered.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ALZHEIMER’S AND TYPICAL AGE-RELATED CHANGES?

Signs of Alzheimer’s/dementia Typical age-related changes

Poor judgment and decision-making Making a bad decision once in a while

Inability to manage a budget Missing a monthly payment

Losing track of the date or the season Forgetting which day it is and remembering it later

Difficulty having a conversation Sometimes forgetting which word to use

Misplacing things and being unable to retrace steps to find them Losing things from time to time

WHAT TO DO IF YOU NOTICE THESE SIGNS

• If you notice any of the 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer's in yourself or someone you know, don't ignore them. Schedule an appointment with your doctor.