T:How do you know if you have Alzheimers?	
Q:I am <age>,  I watched my mom die of Alzheimers <date> at <age>. 
 I have some very scary memory moments,  how do you know if those are normal and just being an old dude or if you are showing signs of what is to come with something like Alzheimers? <name>	
 A:Hi <name>:I'm sorry that your Mom had Alzheimers and that you had to go through the sad and frustrating experiences of Alzheimers/Dementia. 
 Both of my parents had/have Azheimers/Dementia and my Dad died <time period>. 
 Not because of it but from complications of severe RA. 
 My Mom is in a <institution> now with Alzheimers/Dementia and we were visiting with her <day>. 
 We were happy to see each other but we could see a decline in her mental state. 
 I recently turned <age>,  so I was concerned about me also because of my parents plight plus I was having symptoms that at least half of middle aged people do experience. 
 I felt mine were more than the norm,  so I asked my <professional_practitioner> 
 to refer me to a <professional_practitioner> for testing which he did. 
 I needed to know the answer and get things rolling,  if it was the case. 
 People in their late <num> 's and early <num>'s have been dxd. with Alzheimers/Dementia. 
 On the other hand,  forgetting a person's name,  where we put the keys,  going into a room and forgetting what we wanted then remembering it shortly after,  can be quite normal. 
 Our brains are aging after all. 
 There are things that can cause us memory loss and other symptoms like medications,  for example. 
 That's why testing needs to be done by a Specialist. 
 Diagnosing Alzheimer's: How Alzheimer's is diagnosedTo diagnose Alzheimer's dementia,  <professional_practitioner> conduct tests to assess memory impairment and other thinking skills,  judge functional abilities,  and identify behavior changes. 
They also perform a series of tests to rule out other possible causes of impairment. 
 By <institution> To diagnose Alzheimer's dementia,  <professional_practitioner> evaluate your signs and symptoms and conduct several tests. 
 An accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer's dementia is an important first step to ensure you have appropriate treatment,  care,  family education and plans for the future. 
 Early signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's dementiaEarly signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's dementia include: Memory impairment,  such as difficulty remembering events Difficulty concentrating,  planning or problem-solving Problems finishing daily tasks at home or at work Confusion with location or passage of time Having visual or space difficulties,  such as not understanding distance in driving,  getting lost or misplacing items Language problems,  such as word-finding problems or reduced vocabulary in speech or writing Using poor judgment in decisions Withdrawal from work events or social engagements Changes in mood,  such as depression or other behavior and personality changesAlzheimer's dementia can affect several aspects of your daily life. 
When warning signs of Alzheimer's dementia appear,  it's important that you get a prompt and accurate diagnosis. Care! 
A:That is a really nice reply by <name>. 
As she mentioned,  it is the common and rountine tasks that seem to slip out minds as we age. 
Did I take my daily low dose asprin. 
Did I feed the cat etc?I'm almost <age> and both parents have Alzheimers/Dementia that started in their early <num>'s. 
I asked my GP about this a <time_period>. 
He asked me if I had ever driven anywhere and couldn't find my way home. 
Luckily I said no. 
so we ended the conversation and he simply told me I'm just getting old. 
 A:The List is a little scary being every one of those things has happened,  but during my whole life! Big events,  forgetting (<time_period>) that I got up on stage and sung a song to my wife on our <num>th wedding anniversary (we just had our <num>th) creeped me out! I guess I need to get to my <professional_practitioner> and have the testing done to be sure. 
The straw that broke the camels back to get me to post this was <day> when I saw that a guy I was chatting with on <institution> lived in a town that sounded familiar very familiar but I didn't know where it was. 
I looked it up on a map and it made sense but the wrong sense. 
A little later I asked my wife and she told me where it was and it was a city I had spent a lot of time in as my ex-sister-in-law lived there and I passed through it with those memories popping up every time on a regular basis to visit my older children and grandkids regularly <time_period>. 
At least <time_period> passing through this town with fond memories of it. 
To be staring at a map <time_period> ago not knowing where and what this town was seriously creeped me out. 
<name> 
A:Certainly,  if something is especially concerning to you,  that is reason enough to get these tests done. 
Whether to rule out Alzheimers/Dementia or to start treatment to delay progression. 
 From my experience,  the <professional_practitioner> asked me if I suffer from any other conditions/diseases like depression,  insomnia,  etc which can affect the mind. 
 If I've had any head injuries or was on medications,  etc. 
 Most of the practical questions are elementary school age type. 
 He also gave me a basic physical. 
 I required an <diagnostic_test> since I banged my head about <time_period> which required <num> stitches. 
 Not sure if everyone gets that. 
 I made a list of my medications,  conditions and the things that I had experienced that I didn't think a normal person my age should have experienced mentally,  as you have mentioned in your case. 
 They do appreciate these lists since it makes the questioning easier for both of you. 
 Thank you for your comment <name>!  :)
A:I also had one of those creeped me out moments that I mentioned to my GP. 
 I couldn't remember the street number of my house. 
 I knew the name of the street but not the number. 
 The good news that my GP reminded me of was the fact that I knew I could look at some of the mail two feet in front of me and get the number. 
 And he reminded me I had told him I'm a very early morning type of person and that the forgetfulness had happened shortly before bedtime. 
 I've also woken up in the morning and BOOM - BLUE was the color of my second car. 
 that I couldn't remember from the night before. 
 Don't get me started on names. 
 My best friend has reached the point where he automatically tells me the name of the bartender on <day> night 
A:I do have some anxiety issues where my head gets merky swimming around through over full with things. 
 That wasn't happening at the time I don't think but that does happen. 
 But again,  I have to wonder if that is a mixture of Alzheimer like issues and anxiety? <name> 
A:On that note,  my anxiety issues have brought on a lot of physical health problems that ended up being nothing. 
 Every <time_period> there is something else that I think is real that ends up being an anxiety issue. 
  Could this be another one? I know this is a question for my <professional_practitioner>,  but well we are chatting. 
 :D <name> 
A: <name> n <location> You jus made me laugh out loud they say to avoid it you must eat anything with coconut / coconut oil and Olives
A:I recently became aware of gene testing in this area! It seems a friend of a friend had <num> parents and an uncle with Early Onset Alzheimer's and when she asked her <professional_practitioner> about it (at the young age of <age> ),  she was sent to have some <diagnostic_test> done. 
 In her case,  she DOES have the gene,  and she was told she will definitely have Early Onset Alzheimer's. 
  Y'all heard about that?
A: <time_period> has done a couple of shows about a large area somewhere that has a HUGE number of Early Onset Alzheimer's people. 
They have been using the area for tests since it is such a unique situation. 
And they've been testing everyone. 
The six million dollar question is -> Do you really want to know since there is nothing that can be done? 
