Written by Heidi Nestor, Writer and Editor, Life Alert
Country Pop-star, Glen Campbell, has been diagnosed
with Alzheimer’s Disease, but that’s not stopping him from releasing his
new (and last) album, Ghost on the Canvas, and performing a farewell
tour in the fall of 2011.
The “Gentle on my Mind” singer went public with his disease because he
wants his fans to be aware of his condition.
In a People Magazine interview, Campbell said he had been suffering from
short-term memory loss for years but had been diagnosed with AD six
months ago.
So, how does one know if short-term memory loss is
just simple forgetfulness or possibly a symptom of something more
serious like Alzheimer’s?
The Alzheimer’s Association states that memory loss
which disrupts daily life is not a typical part of aging but may be a
symptom of the fatal brain disease that causes a slow decline in memory,
thinking and reasoning skills.
The following are the 10 Warning Signs of
Alzheimer’s that the Alzheimer Association lists on
www.alz.org.
10 warning signs of Alzheimer's:
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Memory loss disrupts daily life:
Although forgetfulness is common in every day life,
per the Alzheimer Association, this form of memory loss includes
forgetting important dates, events, and recently learned information,
which can cause one to ask for the same information over and over.
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Challenges in planning or solving problems:
Some people may experience changes in their ability
to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers. They may have trouble
following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills. They may
have difficulty concentrating and take much longer to do things than
they did before.
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Difficulty completing familiar tasks in familiar places:
People with Alzheimer's often find it hard to complete daily tasks. Sometimes, people may have trouble driving to a familiar location, managing a budget at work or remembering the rules of a favorite game.
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Confusion with time or place:
People with Alzheimer's can lose track of dates, seasons and the passage of time. They may have trouble understanding something if it is not happening immediately. Sometimes they may forget where they are or how they got there.
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Trouble with visual images and spatial relationships:
Some people may experience changes in their ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers. They may have trouble following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills. They may have difficulty concentrating and take much longer to do things than they did before.
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Problems with words in speaking or writing:
People with Alzheimer's may have trouble following or joining a conversation. They may stop in the middle of a conversation and have no idea how to continue or they may repeat themselves. They may struggle with vocabulary, have problems finding the right word or call things by the wrong name (e.g., calling a "watch" a "hand-clock").
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Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps:
A person with Alzheimer's disease may put things in unusual places. They may lose things and be unable to go back over their steps to find them again. Sometimes, they may accuse others of stealing. This may occur more frequently over time.
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Decreased or poor judgment:
People with Alzheimer's may experience changes in judgment or decision-making. For example, they may use poor judgment when dealing with money; for example, giving large amounts to telemarketers. They may pay less attention to grooming or keeping themselves clean.
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Withdrawal from work or social activities:
A person with Alzheimer's may start to remove themselves from hobbies, social activities, work projects or sports. They may have trouble keeping up with a favorite sports team or remembering how to complete a favorite hobby. They may also avoid being social because of the changes they have experienced.
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Changes in mood and personality:
The mood and personalities of people with Alzheimer's can change. They can become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious. They may be easily upset at home, at work, with friends or in places where they are out of their comfort zone.
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The Alzheimer’s Association stresses that these
stages are merely guidelines and other symptoms can vary.
Moreover, not everyone will experience the same symptoms or
progress at the same rate. For more information go to
www.alz.org.
If you or a family member has a medical condition,
such as AD, Life Alert can help.
One touch of a button can get you help, faster than a Wichita
Lineman tapping a call. Life
Alert is the #1 emergency response company and is dedication of
protecting you and your family. Just in the past 3 years Life Alert has
received over 18,000 testimonials from grateful customers, and Life
Alert saves a life from a catastrophe every 11 minutes.
For more information call 1-800-380-0768.
As for Glen Campbell, we can only hope that the
Rhinestone Cowboy knows that his fans are ever smilin', with Glen ever
gentle on their minds.
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