Memory loss that disrupts everyday life is not a normal part of aging. It may be a symptom of dementa, a gradual and progressive decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills. The most common cause of dementa is Alzheimer's disease, a disorder that results in the loss of brain cells.
This checklist of common symptoms can help you recognize signs of Alzheimer's disease.
- Memory loss
- Difficulty performing familiar tasks
- Problems with language
- Disorientation to time and place
- Poor or decreased judgment
- Problems with abstract thinking
- Misplacing things
- Changes in mood or behavior
- Changes in personality
- Loss of initiative
