Alzheimer’s disease transforms people to the core, depleting their abilities to remember, think, communicate and connect with those they love. It’s common to associate Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia with the elderly, but that’s not all who are afflicted.
The newly-released and acclaimed film Still Alice, based on the best-selling and same-titled novel, spotlights a much different picture of Alzheimer’s. It stars Golden Globe award-winning and Oscar-nominated lead actress Julianne Moore as Alice, a middle-aged and accomplished linguistics professor battling early-onset (or younger-onset) Alzheimer’s. Fifty-year-old Alice struggles to hang on to her identity and in her family relationships.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, “Up to 5 percent of the more than 5 million Americans with Alzheimer’s have younger-onset.” They note some can present symptoms in their 50s, 40s and even 30s and have genetic links to the disease. They also report that women are especially affected by the disease in that, “Almost two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer’s are women” and “More than 60 percent of Alzheimer’s and dementia caregivers are women.”
What to Look For
Memory loss likely jumps to mind when you think about Alzheimer’s, but there are many other indicators. Check out these 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s from Alzheimer’s Association:
- Memory loss that disrupts daily life
- Challenges in planning or solving problems
- Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure
- Confusion with time or place
- Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
- New problems with words in speaking or writing
- Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
- Decreased or poor judgment
- Withdrawal from work or social activities
- Changes in mood and personality
*From: 10 Early Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer’s, Alzheimer’s Association.
If you suspect a loved one might have Alzheimer’s, talk with your physician.
Caring for a family member or friend with Alzheimer’s? Find support at our Caregiver Coffee Breaks.