According to the Alzheimer\u2019s Association, every 66 seconds someone in the United States develops Alzheimer\u2019s disease. There are over 6 million Americans living with Alzheimer\u2019s, with 3 million new cases diagnosed each year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The greatest known risk factor is increasing age. Symptoms \ufb01rst appear late in life, and most people with Alzheimer\u2019s are 65 and older. As our aging population continues to grow, we can expect the number of Alzheimer\u2019s cases to rise as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Researchers are still working to discover the root cause of the disease, but it\u2019s widely believed to be due to the abnormal buildup of proteins in and around brain cells. This damage begins a decade or more before symptoms begin to show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alzheimer\u2019s is a degenerative brain disease that causes problems with memory, thinking, and behavior. Over time, the symptoms become severe enough to interfere with daily tasks. Alzheimer\u2019s is the most common form of dementia, and accounts for 60-80% of dementia cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Alzheimer\u2019s Association has identi\ufb01ed 10 early signs. It\u2019s important not to ignore them. If you experience any of the following, make an appointment with your doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the early signs of Alzheimer\u2019s is forgetting recently learned information. This can include everything from important dates or events to asking the same questions over and over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People with Alzheimer\u2019s may \ufb01nd it more dif\ufb01cult to make and follow plans, as well as work with numbers. Monthly household bills can feel insurmountable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alzheimer\u2019s patients \ufb01nd it hard to complete daily tasks like organizing a grocery list or driving to a familiar location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People with Alzheimer\u2019s can lose track of dates, seasons, and the passage of time. It may be impossible to process things that aren\u2019t happening right now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For some people, having vision problems is a sign of Alzheimer\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Following or joining a conversation is often dif\ufb01cult for people living with Alzheimer\u2019s. They are likely to stop in the middle of a conversation, repeat themselves, and struggle with vocabulary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s common for people with Alzheimer\u2019s to put things in strange locations, lose things, and accuse others of stealing things from them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Individuals may experience changes in judgement or decision-making. They may pay less attention to keeping themselves clean and make bad choices about money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because conversation can become dif\ufb01cult, an individual may pull away from hobbies, social activities, and favorite engagements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When people living with Alzheimer\u2019s are out of their comfort zones, they can become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful, or anxious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
SOURCES: <\/strong>Alzheimer\u2019s Association, National Institutes of Health, act.alz.org <\/p>\n\n\n\n Y0126_23-688_C<\/p>\n\n\n\n Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City\u2019s Blue Medicare Advantage includes both HMO and PPO plans with Medicare contracts. Enrollment in Blue Medicare Advantage depends on contract renewal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. The HMO products are offered by Blue-Advantage Plus of Kansas City, Inc. and the PPO products are offered by Missouri Valley Life and Health Insurance Company, both independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, and wholly-owned subsidiaries of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City.<\/p>\n\r\n\t\t\t
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