It’s one thing for an elderly relative, friend or loved one to be forgetful from time to time, but if you begin to notice changes in memory, thinking and problem solving you may want to consider getting him or her screened for Alzheimer’s disease. While the progression of this condition may vary from person to person, there are tell-tale signs to help determine diagnosis.

Chad Yucus, MD, Neurologist at NorthShore, recommends looking for the following warning signs for those who may be suffering from Alzheimer’s disease (AD):

• Repetitively asking the same questions during conversation
• Getting lost or disoriented in familiar surroundings
• Frequently forgetting common words
• Having trouble managing your finances and/or checkbook when it never used to be a problem 
• Forgetting important dates, such as family members’ birthdays and anniversaries

While it can be normal to have any of these problems occur once in a while, they become concerning if they begin to affect the person’s daily life. 

Along with warning signs, Dr. Yucus also outlines some of the most common risk factors for developing this condition, including:

• Age and sex: Alzheimer’s is most common in those who are 65 years of age or older, and more frequently affects women.
• Lifestyle: Those who are sedentary and socially isolated have a higher risk for having changes in memory and thinking.
• Family history:  Those with a first-degree relative (parent or sibling) with Alzheimer’s disease have a modest increased risk of developing the condition themselves.
• Genetics:  Inheriting certain genes, like the APO-e4 , can increase the chance that a person will develop AD—but having the gene does not make development of the condition inevitable.   More rarely, and usually associated with early onset of AD, there are inherited genes which do run in families and directly cause the condition.

Do you know someone with Alzheimer’s disease? What recommendations would you have to others who are just finding out someone they know has this disease?