Aprender por Amor: Acting Early for Their Loved Ones

La familia knows us better than anyone.

Sure, our employers know our daily routines at work, our professional strengths and our weaknesses. Our doctors may understand our medical risks, how our diets affect our blood pressure levels and cholesterol. And our teachers definitely see firsthand how well our kids are doing in school, who they play with at recess and what they need to work on in math.

But no one can clock a change in behavior better than the people we love—our children, our parents, our partners, our tías, tíos, abuelos, and even our favorite primos. So, when it comes to pinpointing the early signs of Alzheimer’s disease in loved ones, it’s important that family members step up and start the conversation. It can make a huge difference for your loved one.

“If you notice something is off, have a conversation, because the more we pay attention, the more we learn, the more we can hold onto what matters most,” says LatiNation TV host Carolina Trejos in the latest Ad Council and Alzheimer’s Association video series.

Talking about Alzheimer’s might seem overwhelming. You might feel like you’re not the right person to address the issue, especially if you’re busy going to school, starting a career, or creating a family of your own. But once you know what to look for, it’s easier to ask for help.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association (10signs.org), these warning signs could indicate someone you love might be experiencing early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease:

Memory loss that disrupts daily life
Challenges in planning or solving problems
Difficulty completing familiar tasks
Confusion with time or place
Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
New problems with words in speaking or writing
Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
Decreased or poor judgement
Withdrawal from work or social activities
Changes in mood and personality

It’s important to know the difference between signs of Alzheimer’s disease and normal aging. For example, as someone gets older, it’s normal to forget things and remember them later. It’s common to miss a payment once in a while. It’s to be expected that your mamá will not remember how to download apps on her phone even after you and your Gen-Z siblings taught her how to do it five times.

But let’s say your abuelo is struggling to remember a familiar recipe, or forgets where he is, or can’t seem to say what he means in his native language: these might be flags that point to Alzheimer’s disease.

Early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s provides the best opportunity for care, management and treatment of the disease. Educating yourself on the early signs is the greatest act of love, because the earlier your loved one gets help, the longer you could have to cherish them.

The relationships you have with your parents, abuelos and with your tías and tíos are sacred. We don’t have these beautiful people in our lives forever, so let’s remember not to take them for granted. You may already call them or visit them weekly. But if you notice changes in their behavior, it might be time to have a conversation with them, and potentially consult with a doctor.

So many of our abuelos and abuelas hold the keys to stories that no textbook could ever tell like they do. Start asking them to retell their favorite stories. It’s important to reinforce those intergenerational bonds, and learn more deeply about who you are and where you come from.

“Recognizing the signs early means preserving our family’s legacy, traditions, and Sunday’s sancocho recipes,” Trejos goes on to say. “Let’s be the ones to look out for our tías, tíos, and abuelos. Knowing the early signs of Alzheimer’s helps you notice changes in a loved one, and to make the best decisions for your family.”

Knowing the early signs of Alzheimer’s helps you notice changes in a loved one and make the best decisions for your family. Visit 10signs.org to learn more.