Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, a group of disorders that result in impairment of mental functioning. In spite of enormous efforts by medical scientists Alzheimer's disease remains progressive and irreversible. The abnormal changes in the brain that cause the disease worsen over time, eventually affecting and impairing many aspects of brain function and the ability of the affected individual to live an independent life.

Memory loss is one of the earliest symptoms. A gradual decline of other intellectual and thinking abilities, which leads to changes in personality and behavior. Alzheimer's disease is progressive and advances in stages. From early forgetfulness the individual develops increasing cognitive impairment, short-term memory loss and the widespread loss of coping abilities.

At the advanced stage of the disease, people with Altzheimer’s disease become dependent on others for every aspect of their lives. The course of the decline varies in each individual with a range of 5 to 25 years. Altzheimer’s disease does not cause death itself but the increasing frailty of the affected individual usually leads to a fatal infection such as pneumonia.

Symptoms Alzheimer's Disease

Symptoms and warning signs vary from person to person. Although forgetfulness is not uncommon, especially as we age, the memory loss of the person with Altzheimer’s disease reaches the point where everyday life is affected adversely. A diagnosis of Altzheimer’s disease often follows the need to seek medical help when the problem becomes so severe that the welfare of the individual is threatened.

Symptoms Include:

Memory loss that affects everyday life skills such as the ability to do a job or carry out ordinary tasks of self care. Lack of concentration and even confusion or disorientation.

Loss of ability to performing ordinary everyday tasks such as washing or cooking a meal, shopping or putting the trash out.

Problems with speech. Everybody forgets a word or phrase occasionally but people with Alzheimer’s disease may become hard to understand and even use inappropriate words and terms. Their ability to write coherantly might be similarly affected.

Disorientation and confusion are common. The person with Altzheimers disease may become lost in their own familiar neighborhood. It is common to lose track of time, even to forget the month and year.