Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, degenerative brain disease that causes dementia – the loss of intellectual capacity. While most people are diagnosed with the disease when they are over the age of 65, about five percent of those who develop the disease do so before that time, typically in their 40s and 50s. This is known as early onset Alzheimer’s.
While a diagnosis of early onset Alzheimer’s disease is a frightening one, early detection can help slow the progression of the disease and improve quality of life. Those suffering from the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease may exhibit some of the following warning signs:
- Misplacing items and being unable to retrace steps and find them.
- Losing track of recently learned information such as names and recent events, or repeatedly asking for the same information.
- Losing track of the season, year, or the passage of time.
- Forgetting where they are or how they got there.
- Struggling to complete common daily tasks such as bathing, dressing, or driving to familiar places.
- Reduced ability to solve problems such as following a familiar recipe, paying bills on time, or balancing the checkbook.
- Changes in personality including rapid mood swings, withdrawing from others, and becoming suspicious.
- Exercising poor judgment such as giving large amounts of money to a phone solicitor.
- Trouble coming up with appropriate words during a conversation, finishing a sentence, taking part in a conversation, or following directions.
Alzheimer’s disease—especially the early onset variety—causes many changes in the lives of those affected. In addition to frustration, sadness, and fear, it often causes severe financial difficulties. Those diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s disease are eligible to apply for Social Security disability under the Compassionate Allowance (CAL) initiative. CAL allows for expedited processing of the Social Security disability application.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a disabling condition and denied Social Security disability benefits, contact a compassionate and skilled Harrisburg Social Security Disability lawyer at Schmidt Kramer for help. The number is (717) 888-8888, and the case review is free. Call us today—we can help!