Alzheimer's Signs and Symptoms: What to Expect

Common symptoms: When they happen, why they happen, and what you can do

Jump to:

• Mild-stage Alzheimer's symptoms
• Moderate-stage Alzheimer's symptoms
• Severe-stage Alzheimer's symptoms

Mild-stage Alzheimer's symptoms

During mild-stage Alzheimer's, your loved one will likely be able to manage his or her basic self-care -- what experts refer to as activities of daily living (ADLs) and communicate with you and others fairly well. However, problems with memory or other mental functioning will begin interfering with your loved one's ability to manage instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) -- complex skills usually learned during the teenage years -- such as managing finances, driving, meal preparation, and managing medications.
Memory symptoms
The ability to retain immediate memories will increasingly affect your loved one's short-term thinking. Click on any of the symptoms, below, to learn more about what to expect and what to do:

• Repeats questions, stories, ideas within minutes (or less)
• Forgets appointments and important tasks
• Gets lost, even on familiar routes

For More and Original Article: https://www.caring.com/articles/alzheimers-symptoms

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What to Do if You Suspect Elder Abuse

We love to read heartwarming stories about devoted caregivers and thriving seniors. When we look at seniors who are well cared for, we think, “Of course – that’s the way it should be.”

Unfortunately, the good stories don’t tell the whole tale of senior care in the United States. According to the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA), 1 out of 10 seniors is a victim of abuse. What’s more, elder abuse is typically underreported. The National Elder Abuse Incidence Study estimates that only 1 in 14 cases of elder abuse ever comes to the attention of authorities.
Here, NCEA Deputy Director Julie Schoen offers tips on how to intervene in cases of suspected elder abuse.

What Is Elder Abuse?

“Elder abuse takes many forms,” says Schoen. The major categories of mistreatment include physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, exploitation, neglect, and abandonment. Elder abuse can happen at the hands of a trusted friend or family member (domestic abuse), or it can be perpetrated by caregivers at a senior care facility (institutional abuse).

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How to Care for a Parent After a Stroke

When an elderly parent is recovering from a stroke, there is perhaps no more helpful advice for family caregivers than “Expect the unexpected.”

“Every stroke is different,” says David Siegelman, Director of Rehabilitation at The Hebrew Home in Riverdale by RiverSpring Health in the New York City area. “People can experience vastly different effects based on such factors as the type, location and severity of the stroke.”

Stroke After-Effects

Among the most common after-effects of a stroke are hemiplegia or hemiparesis, which is paralysis or weakness of one side of the body.

“This is what people most often associate with a stroke,” Siegelman says, “but depending upon its location, a stroke also may affect balance, vision or communication. The inability to communicate is often a major issue that people experience immediately after a stroke. They may lose their ability to speak or they’ll use words that don’t make sense. They may develop swallowing difficulties, also called dysphagia.”

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Can Middle Age Memory Deficits Predict Alzheimer's?

Results from an extensive new study suggest that early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease appear up to 18 years before the disease is officially diagnosed.

Researchers publishing in the journal Neurology gave 2,125 people, average age 73, a test of memory and thinking skills every three years for 18 years. All of the participants were either European-American or African-American and none had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s when the study began.

During the course of the study, 23% of the African-American and 17% of European-American participants developed Alzheimer’s. Those who scored lowest on the memory and thinking tests during the first year of the study were 10 times more likely to develop the disease.

“The changes in thinking and memory that precede obvious symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease begin decades before,” said study author Kumar B. Rajan, PhD, with Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.

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Seniors: When is the Right Time to Stop Driving?

For many of us, driving is a vital component of freedom and independence. But aging brings physical changes that can jeopardize your future on the road.

“Most people I see don’t think they have any driving problems,” says Barbara Moscowitz, a geriatric social worker at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston. “But even subtle changes in your health can affect your reaction time. You need to address them while you’re well, so you can keep driving.”

SENSORY CHANGES

Changes in eyesight may make it harder to see at night, read traffic signs, and cope with glare. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that people ages 65 and older have comprehensive eye exams at least every other year.
Hearing loss also can affect your driving skills by keeping you from noting outside noise such as sirens and horns. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association recommends getting hearing checks every three years after age 50.

Quick fixes: Keep noise in the car to a minimum, and cut back on night driving.

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6 Creative Activities That Will Make Senior Residents Smile

The best assisted living communities make it a priority to have an energetic and creative activities director on their staff.  This individual is tasked with keeping residents busy and happy and stimulated. A good activities director will continually ask residents and their loved ones for input so that the calendar is filled with a well-rounded range of assisted living activities designed to engage residents of all different abilities and interests and to reflect their own interests as community members. Assisted living activities are important for more than just fun and games, though. One study of more than 5,500 participants aged 65 years or older concluded that stimulating leisure activities were significantly associated with a reduced risk of dementia.

Putting a smile on resident’s faces is not too hard with a fun mix of activities. They don’t have to be expensive or complicated. Here are five ideas for creative assisted living activities.

1.      Barbeque  Throw a southern barbeque party. Tell the women and men to dress in vacation resort clothes. Fire up the Bubba barbeque pit and serve your best barbeque ribs, pork shoulders and whole hog.

2.      Concert under the stars Beautiful summer weather brings the ability to invite residents outside to a common area and put on a live music concert. Hire a duo that plays music most residents will recognize and enjoy. Serve snacks, cookies, punch and wine –if allowed in the assisted living residence – and let the music flow and the dancing go.


For More and Original Article at www.ssmgrp.com

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Early Signs of Parkinson's Disease

More than 1 million Americans currently have Parkinson’s disease, with an additional 50,000 to 60,000 cases being diagnosed every year. How can you tell if you or a loved one is developing Parkinson’s? Knowing the early signs can help.

Parkinson’s Early Symptoms

 

Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disorder whose symptoms were first described by British physician John Parkinson nearly 200 years ago. “It is caused by a lack of the chemical dopamine and is a progressive degenerative disease, meaning that there is no cure and it gets worse over time,” says Shelley Webb, a registered nurse from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, with more than 30 years experience who is also an Alzheimer’s Association support group facilitator.

In most cases, Parkinson’s disease has no known underlying cause. However, Webb reports that genetic factors as well as environmental factors such as exposure to certain pesticides or industrial toxins may be involved. The average age of onset is 60. However, the disease has been diagnosed in people at 40 or even younger.

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Alzheimer's and Dementia Part 4 of 4

Late-stage Alzheimer's Signs and Symptoms

The focus of late-stage Alzheimer's is the complete deterioration of the personality. Cognitive symptoms worsen, and physical symptoms become profound. The loss of brain cells in all parts of the brain leads to lack of functioning in all systems of the body. The wild behaviors of earlier stages disappear, replaced by a dulling of the mind and body.

Cognitive and memory problems decline further, and complete dependence on others is necessary

• Doesn't recognize familiar people, including their spouse and family members (a lack of visual ability may contribute to this)

• Needs complete help with all activities of daily living

• Requires full-time care

Communication skills are nearly gone

• Appears uncomfortable, but cries out when touched or moved

• Can no longer smile

• Either doesn't speak, or speaks incoherently, with just words or phrases

• May call or cry out repetitively, or groan or mumble loudly

• Can?t write or comprehend reading material

Voluntary control of the body increasingly disappears

• Can't control their movements. Muscles are rigid.

• Complete urinary and bowel incontinence

• Cannot walk, stand, sit up, or hold up their head without assistance. Falls frequently if not assisted or propped well.

• Bedridden.

• Can't swallow easily, may choke on food

• No more wandering; can't move voluntarily

Health declines considerably

• Frequent infections

• Seizures

• Loses weight

• Skin becomes thin and tears easily

• Reflexes are abnormal

The body shuts down

• May refuse to eat or drink

• Can't respond to the environment

• May quit urinating

• Little response to touch

• Sensory organs shut down: the organs may function correctly, but the brain can't interpret the input.

• May only feel cold and discomfort

• Exhausted, sleeps more

Personality changes and idiosyncratic behavior become extreme

• Apathetic, withdrawn (continues from early-stage Alzheimer's)

• Dulling of the personality

• May pat or touch things repeatedly

As the end of life approaches, the Alzheimer's patient may require around-the-clock care. It will be necessary for loved ones to decide whether that care can occur at home or in a facility. The guidance of a physician or a hospice team will be needed.

Please click into these links to find helpful information. 

• Alzheimers care giving
• Support and care giving
• Read a nurse's perspective on Alzheimer's Disease: Click Here

Part 1 Alzheimer's and Dementia
Part 2 Early Stages of Alzheimer's
Part 3 Mid Stages of Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's and Dementia Part 3 of 4

Mid-stage Alzheimer's Signs and Symptoms

The focus of mid-stage Alzheimer's is a decline in functioning of many body systems at once and steadily increasing dependence on caregivers. In mid-stage Alzheimer's disease, the cognitive problems of early Alzheimer's get worse and new ones develop. Memory and cognition problems become severe; communication becomes warped; and the personality is transformed.

The person has a marked change in appearance and hygiene as they become less and less able to take care of themselves. Physical problems increase, including problems with voluntary control of the body, and health declines. Wandering, aggressiveness, hallucinations, and paranoia appear.

This stage is the longest. Those sufferers who are able to recognize their own decline are especially at risk for becoming suicidal during this stage.

The range of problems that may occur include the following:

Significant cognitive decline and memory problems continue

• Forgets recent events, forgets their own history. When they can't remember something, they may make up something instead.

• Increasing difficulty in sorting out names and faces of family and friends, but can still distinguish familiar from unfamiliar faces

• Still knows their own name, but no longer remembers their own address or phone

• Loses track of their own possessions. May take others belongings.

• Can no longer think logically or clearly. Can't organize their own speaking or follow others logic. Can no longer follow written or oral instructions or a sequence of steps. Arithmetic and money problems escalate.

• Disoriented about the season, the day of the week, the time of day

• Disconnected from reality. Does not recognize self in the mirror. May think that a television story is real.

Impaired communication skills worsen

• Problems with speaking, understanding, reading, and writing

• Repeats stories, words, and gestures; repetitive questions

• May still be able to read, but cannot respond correctly

• Problems finishing sentences

• May revert to their first speaking language (and need a multilingual caregiver)

Personality changes become more significant

• Apathetic, withdrawn

• Anxious, agitated

• Unmannerly, aggressive or threatening

• Suspicious, paranoid; may accuse spouse of having an affair, or accuse family members of stealing

• Delusional, has hallucinations. May hear, see, smell, or taste things that aren't present

• May have an exaggeration of their normal personality characteristics

Idiosyncratic behaviors evolve

• Inappropriate sexual behavior: may mistake another person for their spouse, may disrobe or masturbate in public

• Rummages through things, hides things

• Restlessness, pacing, repetitive movements: fingers certain objects over and over; tries doorknobs; hand-wringing; tissue-shredding

• Wandering, including chatting to oneself while wandering. May wander away from the caregiver and familiar, safe surroundings. (One-quarter to one-half of all people with Alzheimer's wander.)

• Disruption of the normal sleep-wake cycle: sundowning (naps during the day, active from late afternoon through the night)

Dependence and need for help with the activities of daily living increases

• May eat without help, but needs help remembering to drink enough liquids and to eat enough

• Needs help dressing appropriately for the weather or occasion. May need help putting clothing onto the correct body part.

• Needs help with grooming: bathing, brushing teeth, combing hair

• Needs help using the toilet

• May no longer be safe when left alone: could fall, burn self, poison self, neglect self. Although able to care for self in some ways, needs full-time supervision for safety.

Voluntary control of the body begins to decline

• Urinary and fecal incontinence increase over time

• Has trouble getting comfortable in a chair or on the toilet

• Muscle twitches

Coming next week: Part 4 Late Stage Alzheimer's Signs and Symptoms
Part 1
Part 2

Alzheimer's and Dementia Part 2 of 4

Early-stage Alzheimer's Signs and Symptoms

The focus of early-stage Alzheimer's is cognitive decline. The Alzheimer's sufferer, as well as family, friends, co-workers, and medical practitioners start to notice the changes. Memory and concentration problems are evident and measurable by cognitive tests. Communication issues surface. Changes in personality and a few idiosyncratic behaviors begin to appear. As a result, the person's performance suffers both at home and at work. The apathy and lack of engagement that is characteristic of all three stages begins here.

Early signs and symptoms could include any of the following

• Cognitive and memory problems begin to appear
• Confusion
• Forgets names and words; might make up words, or quit talking to avoid mistakes
• Repeats questions, phrases or stories, in the same conversation
• Forgets their own history, recent personal events, and current events
• Less able to plan, organize, or think logically
• Increasing difficulty with routine tasks such as planning dinner, grocery shopping, paying bills
• Increasingly unable to make decisions; defers to others choices
• Poor judgment; decline in problem-solving skills
• Money and math problems
• Disoriented in time and place; may become lost in familiar places.
• Trouble concentrating and learning new things; avoids change
• Withdraws from social and mental challenges
• Misplaces valuable possessions; hides things or puts things away in strange places and then forgets where they are

Communication problems are observed

• May converse normally until a memory lapse occurs
• Begins to have difficulty expressing themselves
• Even if unable to speak well, can respond to what you tell them--to your emotional reactions, and to humor
• Increasing difficulty comprehending reading material

Personality changes are evident

• Apathetic, withdrawn, avoids people
• Anxious, irritable, agitated
• Insensitive to others feelings
• Easily angered when frustrated, tired, rushed, or surprised

Idiosyncratic behaviors start to develop

• Hoards, checks, or searches for objects of little value
• Forgets to eat, or eats constantly, or eats only one kind of food

When Alzheimer's has been diagnosed early, the loss of abilities is often mild, and with a little help, the individual can continue living independently much as they did before. In this early stage, some people experience minor physical compensations, such as falling asleep easily, or immunity to colds, but these positive aspects of Alzheimer's are short-lived. In fact, by the time this condition is diagnosed, some of the problems described above may have already progressed to the point where the individual is already in the middle stage of the disease, needing considerable caregiver support.

New Insights into Alzheimer's Research Learning how Alzheimer's disease begins is key to developing new therapeutics to slow or even prevent the disease. Researchers now believe that a failure in insulin processing in the brain may contribute to the development of Alzheimer's disease. Read Memory Special Report Johns Hopkins Health Alerts.

-Next week: Part 3 Mid State Alzheimer's Signs and Symptoms
Part 1

Alzheimer's and Dementia Part 1 of 4

For this Alzheimer's and Dementia four part series we'll be looking at what our Nurse Aide course has to say about these illnesses that are associated with many of our aging residents.

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive fatal illness that causes areas of the brain to shrink. The resulting symptoms start with memory loss and other cognitive deficits, advancing to major personality changes and eventual loss of control over bodily functions.

While some of us experience mild memory losses with aging, people with Alzheimer's have a more noticeable and rapid decline in memory and other cognitive skills. Learn the signs and symptoms to help you decide if its time to seek help for yourself or a loved one showing symptoms of Alzheimer's.

Signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's

When Alzheimer's disease begins to destroy brain cells, no outward symptoms are evident. After a while, small memory lapses appear and grow more serious. The afflicted individual may forget the names of familiar people or places, the words to express what they want to say, or the location of everyday objects.

As the memory lapses of early Alzheimer's become more serious, other cognitive deficits and behavior problems develop:

Typical signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's disease 

• General confusion, disorientation to date, time or place
• Apathy, irritability, depression, anxiety 
• Problems with language, math, abstract thinking, and judgment 
• Personality changes with strange quirks or inappropriate behaviors 
• Wandering, hiding objects, problems with eating and sleeping 
• Late in the disease, paranoia and delusions may occur 
• Toward the end, total loss of self, and inability to control bodily functions 

While these are the major symptoms of Alzheimer's, not all patients have all these symptoms. However, it is good to be aware of the most typical warning signs, as it is important to recognize problems early, and get help for them. Are people with Alzheimer's aware of their signs and symptoms?

People with Alzheimer's show a range of responses to their own behavior and condition:

• Denial (in the early stages)
• Blame others for making them look ridiculous 
• Complete self-awareness (I'm sorry, I have Alzheimer's) 
• Frustration, agitation, rage 
• Vacant despair, with no apparent recognition that they were once a different person 

By the middle stage of Alzheimer's, most victims no longer are aware that they don't remember things or aren't communicating coherently. This is fortunate for them. In a safe environment with good care and social contact, most Alzheimer's patients seem relatively free of suffering. For their friends and relatives it's a different story: the long steady decline of their loved one is painful to watch. The demands of Alzheimer's care also take a toll, over the many years before inevitable death. Depression is more common among the caregivers of Alzheimer's patients than it is among the patients themselves.

The Main Stages of Alzheimer's Disease
Early-stage Alzheimer's (Mild)	Mid-stage Alzheimer's (Moderate)	Late-stage Alzheimer's (Severe)
Memory loss or other cognitive deficits are noticeable, yet the person can compensate for them and continue to function independently.	Mental abilities decline, the personality changes, and physical problems develop so that the person becomes more and more dependent on caregivers.	Complete deterioration of the personality and loss of control over bodily functions requires total dependence on others for even the most basic activities of daily living.

Memory loss or other cognitive deficits are noticeable, yet the person can compensate for them and continue to function independently.

Mental abilities decline, the personality changes, and physical problems develop so that the person becomes more and more dependent on caregivers.

Complete deterioration of the personality and loss of control over bodily functions requires total dependence on others for even the most basic activities of daily living.

People vary in the length of time spent in each stage, and in which stage the signs and symptoms appear. Because the stages overlap, it is difficult to definitively place a person in a particular stage. However, the progression is always toward a worsening of symptoms. The stages identify groups of symptoms that reflect more and more brain decay and increasing dependence on caregivers. The end result of Alzheimer's is death, whether caused by the inability of the brain to keep the body going, or by another disease or injury along the way.

No matter what stage the individual is in at the time of diagnosis, apathy is a major problem from the beginning to the very end. More than forty per cent of people in early-stage Alzheimer's show a lack of interest, initiative, and emotional involvement. In the last stage of Alzheimer's, more than ninety per cent of people are apathetic.

-Next week we'll look at the Early-stage Alzheimer's Signs and Symptoms.

The 7 Deadly Emotions of Caregiving

Nobody would ever choose a smiley face as the perfect symbolic emoticon for a caregiver. Caregiving for an ailing loved one is just too stressful -- often triggering damaging emotions that can not only undermine your good work but harm your health, as well. Here's how to cope:

Caregiver emotion trap #1: Guilt

Guilt is virtually unavoidable as you try to "do it all."

What causes guilt: Guilt stems from doing or saying what you believe is the wrong thing, not doing what you perceive to be enough, or otherwise not behaving in the "right" way, whether or not your perceptions are accurate. Caregivers often burden themselves with a long list of self-imposed "oughts," "shoulds," and "musts." A few examples: I must avoid putting Mom in a nursing home. I ought to visit every day. I shouldn't lose my temper with someone who has dementia.

Risks of guilt: Caregiver guilt is an especially corrosive emotion because you're beating yourself up over faults that are imagined, unavoidable -- or simply human. That's counterproductive at a time when you need to be your own best advocate.

What you can do: Lower your standards from ideal to real; aim for a B+ in the many aspects of your life rather than an across-the-board A+.

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WeCareOnline February Staff Highlight - Bonnie Henningson

This month we get to learn about Bonnie Henningson. 

Bonnie has been in the healthcare field for over 30 years. Bonnie began working as a nursing assistant in high school and later worked as a volunteer EMT. Bonnie’s mother was also a nurse. She originally advised Bonnie not to become a nurse letting Bonnie know that the work was hard and the pay was low.

Bonnie did not heed her mother’s advice and has gone on to possess multiple credentials in the healthcare field! Bonnie obtained a Gerontological Nurse Certification through ANCC, and has been CPHQ certified (Certified Professional of Healthcare Quality). She also has been licensed as a nursing home administrator and has taught CPR and EMT classes. Bonnie has a master’s degree in Public Health with an emphasis on health care administration. She has been a member of NAHQ (National Association of Healthcare Quality), NGNA (National Gerontological Nurse’s Association) and NNSDO (National Nursing Staff Development Organization). Bonnie served on a committee to revise the scope and standards for Gerontological nursing. Over the years she has worked has a charge RN, nursing director, nursing consultant and nursig educator. Bonnie developed and delivered training for staff development coordinators and charge nurses and has presented training at national and state conventions on topics such as pain management. If there were a piece of advice Bonnie wishes someone had given her when she began her career she wishes they would have told her to get her BSN as soon as possible!

Bonnie is married and the Henningson’s have one son and two grandchildren. They also have a Cavalier King Charles. When Bonnie is not working she likes to read, do crossword puzzles, garden, bake, take walks, travel to parks and historic sites, play cards and do hospice volunteering.

Everyone at WeCareOnline plays an important role in helping students have the best online learning experience possible. Bonnie teaches Nursing Assistant and Medication Assistant for several states. Over the years Bonnie has witnessed many changes in the healthcare field. Bonnie states that “Healthcare is a science and we need to be sure to recognize that the current standard of practice WILL change – new studies and research often prove what we once learned to be erroneous and one must do lots of reading to keep up with the changes.”

5 Tips for Talking with a Person with Alzheimer's

Yesterday afternoon, I walked into Mary's spacious room. Mary is a woman who has few visitors and whom I've volunteered to spend a little time with every week. I greeted her, complimented her on her beautiful turquoise sweater and shook her hand.

Then I sat down at her little table that was overflowing with books, photographs, the newspaper and other items she wants to keep close at hand. I started off by picking up a small framed photo of Mary with her husband and three children -- two sons and a daughter.

"Tell me about your daughter," I said, using an open-ended question because they have no right or wrong answers. That's a tip I picked up from The Best Friends Approach to Alzheimer's Care by Virginia Bell and David Troxell.

"Oh, her name is Connie," she told me. "She has four children -- two boys and two girls."
She continued by giving me several details about Connie and her family.


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Grieving: 8 Ways to get through the Holidays

Jersey Girl Jenna Rose Lowthert, 25, was inspired to write her book "Life Goes On..?" after her mother passed away on May 27, 2013, after a 10-month battle with stage four lung cancer.
Here, Lowthert shares tips on how to get through the holidays while grieving a lost loved one.

1. Start a new tradition.
This year marks the second Christmas without my mom. I made a promise to myself that each year I will buy a new ornament in memory of her. It will be like I never spend a Christmas without her.

2. Don't avoid or cancel the holiday.
Although it is so hard and different without our lost loved ones here we must remember that they would still want us to continue on a happy life, not only around Christmas time, but all the time.

3. Have a good cry, let it all out.
If you feel like crying, cry. If you feel like screaming, scream. Let it out. Don't hold the pain and sadness in, talk to a friend about it.

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Even if You Have No Symptoms, Could You Have High Blood Pressure?

The magic numbers for a healthy target blood pressure (BP) reading used to be 120/80. In 2003, that was reviewed and changed by a panel of medical experts, with a higher range determined to be within normal limits. High blood pressure (hypertension) was then defined as 140/90 or above, particularly for older adults 60 or over.

Those individuals with hypertension were advised to take medication(s) to keep their readings within that range. People with diabetes or kidney disease have lower target numbers (130/80) due to being at higher risk.

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How to Choose a Great Assisted Living

According to a recent study by CareScout, 70 percent of seniors 65 years and older will require a form of long-term care at some point in later life.

That statistic makes it critical to choose wisely to find the right fit in senior housing for you or a loved one.

Peder Johnsen is the CEO of the Concordis Senior Living organization, which owns and operates senior housing communities.

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Home Care Agency Develops New Model to Decrease Hospital Readmissions

A Florida home health care agency has developed a new business model aimed at reducing hospital readmissions and cutting down on costs to Medicare, according to a Bradenton Herald report.
Infinity Homecare, based in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, is focused on educating older patients about what they can do for themselves, or empowering them through coaching and training to avoid rehospitalizations by remaining at home.

The model involves sending nurses and other professionals into clients’ homes to educate them on their own care after they experience major health episodes. This might include heart attacks, pneumonia or heart failure and setting achievable goals to overcome rehabilitation milestones while remaining at home.

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Alzheimer's: What You Can Do

Caring for a person with Alzheimer’s disease can become physically, emotionally and financially challenging on a family. We wanted to take a moment to reflect on the significance of early detection of this disease and more importantly, what you can do to help loved ones.

The Great Foolers

It can be very easy to dismiss the early signs of Alzheimer’s as just a normal part of aging. Paying a bit more attention to mom or dad’s behaviors and habits, however, can make a world of difference in early detection. Here are some signs you can look for if you think a loved one may be exhibiting signs of Alzheimer’s:

1. Memory loss: It’s not unusual for someone to forget where they parked their car or what they went to get in the pantry. When a person forgets how to use a remote control for the TV or how to use a microwave, however, this can be a warning sign of the disease that has gone undetected.
2. Unfamiliar settings: By taking mom or dad out of their own home and into an unfamiliar setting, it can help reveal things that a familiar setting could mask.

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Are you at Risk: Deaths from Alcohol on the Rise

Approximately 3.3 million deaths worldwide in 2012 were the result of alcohol consumption, according to a new report from the World Health Organization. Additionally, 16 percent of people in the world who use alcohol could be categorized as binge drinkers.

The new report, which examined the trends in alcohol use among 194 WHO member states, found Europe topped the list for the region with the highest rate of alcohol consumption per capita, though the rate has remained stable over the past five years. In the last half decade, alcohol use also remained unchanged in Africa and throughout the Americas. However, drinking increased in the South-East Asia and the Western Pacific regions of the world.

The report found alcohol-related mortality was more common for men than women: 7.6 percent of deaths among men versus 4 percent of deaths among women worldwide were linked to excessive drinking. However, the authors of the report say alcohol abuse among women is on the rise. A similar report released in 2011 found 6.2 percent of all male deaths were related to alcohol, compared to 1.1 percent of female deaths at that time.

The overall number of alcohol-related deaths rose from 2.5 million in the 2011 report.

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