ALZHEIMERS? THE TEN SIGNS

The reason that our memories tend to deteriorate as we get older is that out brain cells are dying but the bodies ability to replace cells is diminishing.In my own case my memory problems began many years ago when I was about forty, but it wasn't until three months ago that I was diagnosed with dementia and possible alzheimers. For many years my memory just failed me in remembering names and faces. On the other hand I could drive five hundred miles and remember every bend and every lay by.So a diminishing memory is usually a slow process and life can go on for many years almost as normal. However, when memory loss becomes more acute and some tasks become almost too difficult to do you may need to seek medical advice as to whether you are suffering from dementia which in 80% of cases is the symptom of alzheimers disease. The following ten signs will help you to ascertain if you need to seek help. 1. Memory loss. You may well remember in detail things of your youth, but you can't even remember what you had for breakfast. 2.Difficulties working with numbers such as writing cheques or calculating balances. 3.Difficulty in completing simple tasks such as housekeeping. 4.Confusion with time and place or forgetting where you parked the car. 5.Trouble understanding visual images. Difficulty in reading. Losing the ability to differentiate. 6.Problems with words. speaking or writing. Vocabulary, using wrong words, difficulty in remembering words to use. 7. Misplacing things.Forgetting where you put things. Sometimes suspecting others of stealing. 8.Poor judgement in money affairs. 9. Withdrawing from society. 10. Change in mood or personality. If some of these apply to you or a loved one then you should seek medical advice. Although there is currently no cure for dementia or alzheimers, there are steps to be taken to slow down the disease and also practical plans to be made about how to live with dementia or alzheimers. My own situation has deteriorated very little in the past week, but I am increasingly conscious of forgetting who certain people are and struggling sometimes to recall words. However, I am still writing my fourth book, 'Down and Out In Boland.' I am not conscious of any difficulty yet, apart from occasionally struggling for the oddest words. So I am fighting the enemy and I remain happy and positive. A wonderful wife helps a lot, as does prayer and meditation. It is still very hot here in Paarl and so swimming with Boysie has been great fun.The two birds noisey and chirpy this morning and all three dogs snoozing as I work. Keep taking the tablets. David Barnato. Paarl. South Africa.