How can I tell the difference? - Alzheimer's Disease & Dementia Message Board

brate1 · 09-21-2001, 11:48 AM

Hi all
My Grandma is going to be 78 this year and is forgeting things. How do I know if it is just old age or if it is AD ? She mixes up names like calls me my moms name and calls my daughter my name. She is not even aware she is doing it, but we usually correct her and she says oh yeah. She also forgets to turn the stove off frequently. She will be monivg in wiith her sister soon because it is safer for her to be with someone.
I just wanted to know if this is early AD or if it is just old age.

siouxzee · 09-23-2001, 07:30 AM

Most people get forgetful as they age. In general terms we all forget things, even like your grandma does. Names of people, where you left things, etc. The general rule with Alzheimer's Disease is that they forget different thing. Such as they will forget that a refrigerator door has to be closed to retain coldness, they'll forget you have to wear shoes in the snow or what a spoon is used for. They'll forget how to do simple things like how to comb their hair, they may even forget what a brush or comb is. They may not know the steps for preparing a meal, using a household appliance, or participating in a lifelong hobby.

It sounds so far like your grandma is doing ok with her forgetfulness. Even forgeting to turn off the stove is done by young people. Her forgetting your names or calling you by the wrong names is in line with normal aging.

brate1 · 09-23-2001, 02:53 PM

Thank you so much !
I was worried that it was AD !
I guess it does sound like she is doing well for her age then
Thanks again!

Sallen · 09-30-2001, 04:22 PM

My Mom's 89, and has some dementia...but she's been mixing my daughter and I up namewise for years! (Well, we *are* a lot alike...

) She knows who she's talking to...but sometimes the name 'misfires'. Some confusion of that kind is normal as we get older. Also, as 'roles' change it can be confusing for an older person as well. Mom still laughs about the time she told the phone salesman that her 'mother' was at work and wouldn't be home until 5. Since he knew she was in her eighties, he must have been just a little surprised that *her* mom was still working....