Special to the Herald

SPRINGFIELD – Incidents in her personal and professional life motivated Nicole Magnani to get involved with the Alzheimer’s Association.

Magnani’s grandmother started showing signs of dementia 20 years ago and her condition has continued to worsen. In addition, Magnani has encountered numerous citizens impacted by Alzheimer’s and related conditions while performing her duties as a Chatham County Sheriff’s Office corporal.

During a presentation at the Effingham County Senior Citizens Center March 21, Magnani taught nearly three dozen members about the warning signs of Alzheimer’s. She urged them to take action if they saw any of them in themselves or someone else.

The signs are:

1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life (Example: Forgetting recently learned information

2. Challenges in planning or solving problems (Example: Having trouble keeping track of monthly bills)

3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks (Example: Difficulty organizing a grocery list)

4. Confusion with time or place (Example: Losing track of dates, seasons and the passage of time)

5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships (Example: Problems judging distance, which may cause trouble with driving)

6. New problems with words in speaking or writing (Example: Calling everyday objects by the wrong name)

7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps (Example: Leaving keys in unusual places and having no idea how they got there)

8. Decreased or poor judgement (Example: Making bad decisions when dealing with money)

9. Withdrawal from work or social activities (Example: Losing interest in a favorite hobby)

10. Changes in mood or personality (Example: Becoming easily upset when out of one’s comfort zone)

Nearly 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, Magnani said. One in three seniors dies with it or another form of dementia.

Alzheimer’s deaths increased 141 percent from 2000-2021, she added. The disease kills more than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined.

Magnani said early diagnosis offers a chance to plan for the future, access support services and explore ways to address some symptoms for a time. Visit alz.org/evaluatememory to learn what that evaluation may include.