Over the holidays, check older loved ones for signs of dementia

When Iowans visit their loved ones over the holidays, it might be a good time to check for signs of dementia or cognitive conditions, state experts advise.

“During the holidays, we’d like people to know warning signs of Alzheimer’s,” said Lauren Livingston, communications director of the Iowa chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. “It might have been a while since they last saw that family member, and they may have noticed difference could indicate (Alzheimer’s).”

The number of dementia and Alzheimer’s cases has increased in recent years and the COVID-19 pandemic has indirectly caused further decline in those with cognitive conditions.

One of the most common warning signs is memory loss that disrupts daily life, such as forgetting events and needing reminders or other aids to help remember.

“One thing important to note, memory loss that disrupts life on daily life is not a normal part of the aging process,” Livingston said. “As people age, they are more likely to forget, but it’s a concern if you’re seeing that pattern getting worse over time.”

Other signs include withdrawal from work or social activities, confusion with time or place and challenges in planning or solving problems.

The list of 10 warning signs can be found on the Alzheimer’s Association website, alz.org.

Those who notice warning signs in their older loved ones should have a conversation with that individual and a close family member about seeing a doctor, Livingston said.

People also can access specialists who can provide crisis assistance as well as referrals to local programs and resources through the Alzheimer’s Association’s free, 24/7 help line at 1-800-272-3900.

Numbers increase

About 6.2 million Americans aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s disease, including roughly 66,000 in Iowa, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.

By 2025, the number of older Iowans with Alzheimer’s is expected to reach 73,000, an increase of 10.6 percent.

In addition, social isolation during the pandemic caused many individuals living with the disease “to decline much more rapidly,” Livingston said.

“Unfortunately, the pandemic was hard on everyone, but it was harder on those living with Alzheimer’s and dementia,” she said.

Elizabeth Steele, a Des Moines resident who volunteers with the Alzheimer’s Association, said her family saw a decline in her father, who was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease in 2018 at the age of 57.

He lives in a memory care facility in Omaha, Neb., which meant Steele and the rest of her family were unable to see him in-person for six months. During that time, she noticed he lost the ability to use his phone and showed other “significant” declines.

“It still would have happened either way,” she said. “He still did know who I was, but his world became so small because he had to stay in his room.”

Officials also saw an increase in deaths from Alzheimer’s and dementia during the ongoing pandemic, Livingston said. Official tallies haven’t been released yet, but the National Library of Medicine says the trajectory of deaths “was likely exacerbated in 2020 by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

In Iowa, 1,344 Iowans died from Alzheimer’s in 2019, according to the association. Dementia-related deaths are expected to be about 14 percent higher than predicted in 2020.

Nationwide, 121,499 people died from Alzheimer’s in 2019, making it the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States. According to one study, deaths from Alzheimer’s increased 145 percent between 2000 and 2019.

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