CHANGE TEXT SIZE:
People who normally balance their checkbooks may be momentarily disconcerted when the task is more complicated than usual, but they will eventually figure out the solution. Someone with Alzheimer's disease could forget completely what the numbers are and what to do with them.
Anyone can misplace their wallet or keys, but they eventually find them by reconstructing where they could have left them. A person with Alzheimer's disease may put things in inappropriate places - an iron in the freezer, or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl - and not be able to retrieve them.
Everyone has a bad day once in a while, or may become sad or moody from time to time. Someone with Alzheimer's disease can exhibit rapid mood swings for no apparent reason; e.g., going from being calm to tears to anger back to calm in a few minutes.
People's personalities ordinarily change somewhat as they age - their character traits strengthen or mellow. But a person with Alzheimer's disease can change drastically, becoming extremely irritable, suspicious or fearful.
It is normal for a person to tire of housework, business activities or social obligations, but most people regain their initiative after a while. The person with Alzheimer's disease may become very passive and require cues and prompting to get them involved in activities.
