Is it Alzheimer's? Ten Warning Signs You Should Know

The Alzheimer's Association has developed a checklist of common symptoms for Alzheimer's disease. If several items are checked and the symptoms progress over time, the individual may have some form of dementia. Additional testing will be required to make a diagnosis of probable Alzheimer's disease.

	Recent memory loss that affects job skills. Forgetting things often and not remembering them later, such as the name of your boss.
	Difficulty performing familiar tasks. Forgetting to serve a meal and forgetting you cooked it.
	Problems with language. Forgetting simple words and substituting inappropriate words, making a sentence or phrase difficult to understand.
	Disorientation of time and place. Not knowing where you are or how you got there.
	Poor or decreased judgment. Forgetting responsibilities, such as caring for a child. Dressing inappropriately, such as wearing several shirts at once.
	Problems with abstract thinking. Having difficulty performing complicated tasks, such as balancing a checkbook and forgetting what the numbers are and what to do with them.
	Misplacing things. Putting things in inappropriate places, such as putting an iron in the freezer.
	Changes in mood or behavior. Having rapid mood swings with no apparent reason.
	Changes in personality. Feeling confused, suspicious or fearful.
	Loss of initiative. Becoming passive and requiring prompting to become involved in daily activities.