Hi, friend. Pull up a cozy chair, pour yourself something warm (tea? coffee? wine-in-a-teacup?), and let’s chat about something that might be happening right under your nose — or in your parent’s freezer.

Alzheimer’s Disease — or as I like to call it, “The Great Brain Mix-Up” — is the most common form of dementia. It’s progressive (meaning it gets worse over time), degenerative (meaning it damages brain cells), and incredibly frustrating (for everyone involved). It’s not just about memory — it affects everything from how we think and speak to how we understand the world through our five senses. That’s right: sight, smell, hearing, touch, taste — all of it.

And no, your loved one isn’t trying to be difficult. Their brain is literally having a hard time making connections — like trying to use a phone with spaghetti wires.

Let’s walk through the big signs of Alzheimer’s, Nora-style: /

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1. Memory Woes That Go Beyond “Where Are My Glasses?”

Forgetfulness happens to the best of us (me, three times this morning). But if someone’s forgetting how to make coffee, or what day it is — again, and they used to handle these things just fine, that’s more than just “oops.”

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2. Trouble with Planning & Problem Solving

Does your loved one suddenly look at a simple recipe like it’s a NASA launch manual? Struggling with steps, instructions, or even keeping track of bills may be a sign their executive functioning (the brain’s “get-it-done” system) is on strike.

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3. Tasks That Used to Be Easy… Now Aren’t

Suddenly walking away from a pan on the stove, getting lost driving to the store they’ve visited for 20 years, or putting a sweater over a nightgown in July — all big red flags.

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4. Confused About Time, Date, or Where They Are

Your loved one might insist it’s nighttime at 10 AM or think you haven’t visited in months… even if you were there yesterday. Their internal clock is no longer reliable. Be gentle, not factual.

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5. Interpreting the Environment (Spoiler: It’s Hard)

Balance problems, visual misjudgment, bumping into things — all this may stem from the brain not processing the environment accurately. They might step off a curb thinking it’s flat or misjudge a chair’s distance. It’s not clumsiness — it’s perception.

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6. Language Gets… Creative

They might lose words mid-sentence or invent new ones (“pass me the whatchamuffin”). Reading becomes a challenge. Following conversations? Forget it — especially if the TV’s on or the dog is barking. Too much input = overload.

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7. Lost and Can’t Retrace

Keys in the freezer. Remote in the sugar bowl. Then frustration when they can’t remember putting it there. And no — they can’t retrace their steps to find it. That map is gone.

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8. Questionable Decisions

Overspending, stopping medications, bathing less, eating only donuts for days… Alzheimer’s affects judgment. They’re not “being stubborn.” Their internal compass is glitching.

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9. Quiet Withdrawal

They start skipping church, forgetting game night, avoiding family dinners. Not because they’re bored — but because they know something’s off and they’re scared to let it show.

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10. Mood and Personality Changes

Maybe they used to be calm and sweet — now they’re anxious, depressed, even angry. That’s not “just getting older.” Their personality is shifting as the disease affects the brain’s emotional center.

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All of the Above Are Important, But Honestly, the Most Important Thing of All…

Is noticing something’s not right. If the people closest to them (you!) are saying “something’s off,” trust that. Don’t wait. A medical evaluation can offer clarity, support, and maybe even early interventions.

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A Note on Senses, Culture & Compassion

Alzheimer’s doesn’t play fair. It affects all five senses, and how someone experiences it may vary based on their cultural background, beliefs, and personal history. Always lead with empathy.

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Final Sip of Truth

If you’ve read this far, let me pour you a second cup (you’ve earned it). Alzheimer’s is a beast, but knowledge helps tame it. The more we understand it, the more grace we can offer — to our loved ones, and to ourselves.

So if your parent says they had lunch with Elvis, and insists it’s 1974, take a breath. Smile. And maybe play some old rock ‘n’ roll.

You’re not alone in this.

With heart (and humor),
Nora 💜

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