Symptoms:

• Recent memory loss begins to affect job performance.
• Confusion about places - can't start anything.
• Mood/personality changes - patient becomes anxious about symptoms, avoids people.
• Poor judgment - makes bad decisions.
• Takes longer with routine chores.
• Trouble handling money, paying bills.

Examples:

• Can't remember what she was just told to do.
• Forgets which bills are paid - can't remember phone numbers.
• Loses things - can't remember grocery list.
• Arrives at wrong time or place, or constantly rechecks calendar.
• "Mother's not the same - she's withdrawn, disinterested."
• She spent all day making dinner and forgot to serve several courses.
• She paid the bills three times over, or didn't pay for three months.

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Symptoms:

• Increasing memory loss and confusion.
• Shorter attention span.
• Problems recognizing close friends and/or family.
• Repetitive statements and/or movements.
• Restless, especially in the late afternoon and at night.
• Occasional muscle twitches or jerking.
• Perceptual motor problems. Difficulty organizing thoughts, thinking logically.
• Can't find right words - makes up stories to fill in blanks.
• Problems with reading, writing and numbers.
• May be suspicious, irritable, fidgety, teary or silly.
• Loss of impulse control - sloppy, won't bathe or afraid to bathe, has trouble dressing.
• May see or hear things that are not there.
• Needs full-time supervision.

Examples:

• Can't remember visits immediately after you leave.
• Repetitive movements or statements.
• Sleeps often - awakens frequently at night and may get up and wander.
• Perceptual motor problems - difficulty getting into a chair, setting the table for a meal.
  Can't find the right words.
• Problems with reading, numbers - can't follow written signs, write name, add or subtract.
• Suspicious - may accuse spouse of hiding things, infidelity; may act childish.
• Loss of impulse control - sloppier table manners; may undress at inappropriate times or in the wrong place.
• Huge appetite for junk food and other people's food; forgets when last meal was eaten, then gradually loses interest in food.

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Symptoms:

• Can't recognize family or image of self in mirror.
• Loses weight even with good diet.
• Little capacity for self-care.
• Can't communicate with words.
• May put everything in mouth or touch everything.
• Can't control bowels, bladder.
• May have seizures, experience difficulty swallowing, skin infections.

Examples:

• Looks in mirror and talks to own image.
• Needs help with bathing, dressing, eating and toileting.
• May groan, scream or make grunting sounds.
• May try to suck on everything.
• Sleeps more.

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