10 Alzheimer’s warning signs

The Alzheimer’s Assn. has compiled a list of 10 warning signs of Alzheimer’s and how they differ from mental glitches that shouldn’t faze you. They include:

Memory loss that disrupts daily life.

Challenges in planning or solving problems.

Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure.

Confusion with time or place.

Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships.

New problems with words in speaking or writing.

Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps.

Decreased or poor judgment.

Withdrawal from work or social activities.

Changes in mood or personality.

“A person doesn’t have to have all of them,” says Dr. David Reuben, chief of the geriatrics division in the Department of Medicine at UCLA. “But with three or four, maybe it’s time to get checked out.”

More information about these warning signs and what distinguishes them from normal behavior is available on the Alzheimer’s Assn. website, https://www.alz.org.

—Karen Ravn