The Memory Unit OT

Before we can fully understand how to recognize the signs of Alzheimer’s disease, we first have to know what those signs are.

The Alzheimer’s Association identifies 10 early signs of Alzheimer’s disease that can be observed in individuals with newly or undiagnosed Alzheimer’s. (source)

• memory loss that disrupts daily life
• difficulty with planning and problem solving
• difficulty completing familiar tasks
• confusion around time and/or place
• decreased understanding visual images and spatial relations
• new problems with spoken or written word
• misplacing things/unable to retrace steps
• poor judgment
• withdrawal from work/social activities
• mood and personality changes

It’s important to remember that these signs need to be significant enough to interfere with daily life in order to be indicative of Alzheimer’s. This is more than just a little forgetfulness or agitation here or there.

There are lots of little things you can do and take note of during your evaluations and treatments to quickly screen for these signs.

• Can this patient remember basic information you’ve stated earlier in the evaluation (such as your name or your title)?
• Can this patient describe their home environment and functional routine clearly?
• Does this patient know the current date? The name of the facility? The reason for admission to the facility?
• Can this patient comprehend your verbal instruction?
• How is this patient’s safety awareness during mobility assessments? If you ask this patient to complete a basic task (ie. get in and out of bed or put on a pair of shoes), can they do it successfully?
• Is this patient willing to talk to you? Will they engage in conversation with you in an appropriate manner?
• Does this patient’s mood remain the same throughout the evaluation or does it fluctuate?
• Can this patient successfully complete the evaluation with you?

The answers to these sorts of questions will tell you whether or not you need to complete further cognitive testing.

Once you’ve got your data and have documented the signs and symptoms that you’re noticing, you can then go on to address these areas of deficit. That starts with asking ourselves: what occupation does this sign(s)/symptom(s) impact, how does this sign(s)/symptom(s) impact that occupation, why does this matter in the bigger picture, and what can I as the therapist do to address this?

The more you familiarize yourself with these signs and symptoms, the more skilled you will become at recognizing them within the behaviors of your patients. And remember, not all Alzheimer’s disease cases get diagnosed. So just because you don’t see a diagnosis in the medical history, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be looking for these signs during your evaluations and treatments.