Today is World Alzheimer’s Day

World Alzheimer’s Day, which is every Sept. 21, is a global effort to raise awareness and challenge the stigma around Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia.

More than 55 million people across the world are affected by these diseases.

One in three seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. It kills more people than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined.

Ten early signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s and dementia are:

        1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life.

2. Challenges in planning or solving problems.

3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks.

4. Confusion with time or place.

5. Trouble understanding visual images or spatial relationships.

6. New problems with words in speaking or writing.

7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps.

8. Decreased or poor judgment.

9. Withdrawal from work or social activities.

10. Changes in mood and personality.

If you notice one or more signs in yourself or another person, a doctor should be seen so action can be taken to figure out what’s going on.

For more information, go to the Alzheimer’s Association’s website.