It looks like Alzheimer's disease- but it may not be

Eight Conditions That Can Mimic Alzheimer's Symptoms But Can Usually Be Reversed

When you or a friend or loved one, begin experiencing forgetfulness, start repeating the same things, act confused, or exhibit mood or personality changes-it's always cause for concern. Many people automatically assume it's Alzheimer's Disease or one of the other forms of dementia. Thankfully, quite often it's actually not dementia but some other medical problem. Whatever the problem is, these symptoms mean it's time to see the doctor.

With an examination, your doctor will be able to rule out many possible causes-and hopefully determine what is really going on, and, what can be done about it. Here are some common problems that often cause symptoms that look like Alzheimer's disease:

Urinary Tract and other infections

"It is not that easy to diagnose a urinary tract infection because there may be little or no pain or discomfort," said Bob Tucker, a qualified dementia care provider (QDCP)

and co-owner of Senior Helpers Northbrook office. "It is important to diagnose this condition because it's a leading cause of sepsis, a life-threatening infection. Since this infection causes stress on the body, it can result in confusion and changes in behavior. Once diagnosed, however, it can usually be treated with antibiotics and successfully overcome. Other infections may also cause these symptoms but typically can be managed well when caught early."

Thyroid and liver conditions

When your thyroid is not functioning properly or you are not receiving enough Vitamin A for your liver, you can experience memory deficiencies. Both conditions need to be ruled out before worrying about any type of dementia.

Depression

Depression is a serious problem for many seniors. When seniors become depressed, they may not be paying close attention to what you have to say or be capable of interacting well with people. A physician needs to determine if depression is causing their memory issues and social interaction problems, and how it can be treated.

Hearing loss

"When a loved one can't hear," said Abbie Tucker, M.A., C.S.A. and a qualified dementia care provider (QDCP) and co-owner of Senior Helpers, "they can't respond normally to the world around them. Your loved one may not even realize that hearing loss is their problem. Make sure your loved one is given a hearing test to determine if that is the reason for their disinterest in conversations, decreased levels of socialization, strange behaviors or unusual answers to common questions."

Side-effects from medicines

Many seniors take numerous medications every day. More than 100 medications have side effects that can impact behavior and memory. If your loved one is having these memory issues, especially if they have recently begun taking a new prescription, make sure the doctor reviews all the medications they are taking.

Substance abuse

Did your friend or loved one have substance abuse issues when they were younger? Or, do they still have substance abuse problems. Drug and alcohol problems can cause all kinds of cognitive and physical problems-including symptoms that look like Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia.

Vitamin deficiencies

A lack of Vitamin B12 and Vitamin D can cause memory problems in older adults. When your loved one has an annual checkup, ask their doctor to run a test to determine if vitamin deficiencies are a problem.

Brain Tumor

Benign and cancerous brain tumors can cause memory loss, confusion and many other symptoms. A brain scan may show that a tumor is causing the problems-and not Alzheimer's. Many tumors are benign, but if they are growing or malignant surgery may need to be considered.

Numerous other types of dementias

To determine if your loved one has Alzheimer's, they need to be tested to determine the possibilities that they are suffering from another type of dementia such as Frontotemporal, Vascular, Lewy Body Dementia or Parkinson's Disease. Sometimes symptoms are similar...sometimes not. Medicines and other treatments can vary significantly so getting a diagnosis of what type of dementia it is-if, in fact, it is dementia is really important.

If you are concerned about your health or the health of your loved one, please contact your doctor. Should you need the help of a caregiver or personal assistant, even for a short period of time or just for a few hours per week, Senior Helpers can help. For more information call Bob Tucker at 847-564-7500, or visit www.seniorhelpers.com.

You may also email Bob at: rtucker@seniorhelpers.com.

Senior Helpers is also the Alzheimer's Foundation of America CARES Affiliate Office for the Chicagoland area and a Certified Senior Gems® Dementia Care Office.