Alzheimer's Disease Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease is a disorder that affects the brain. Its cause is unknown. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia. Dementia is a progressive loss of cognitive and intellectual function without impairment of consciousness. The dementia associated with Alzheimer's disease results in impaired memory, thinking, judgment, and ability to learn. Thus, normal tasks, such as cooking, getting dressed, and driving a car, become difficult for patients with Alzheimer's disease. Patients with Alzheimer's disease can also have depressed mood and behavioral disturbances. About 10% of patients with dementia, including those with Alzheimer's disease, exhibit some type of psychosis (a markedly altered perception of one's physical and social environment), which can include paranoia, delusions, and hallucinations. Alzheimer's disease can also affect language, decision-making ability, attention span, and personality. The mental deterioration that characterizes Alzheimer's disease can progress to profound dementia within 5 to 10 years. Symptoms of dementia progress more steadily in people with Alzheimer's disease than in people with other forms of dementia. However, the rate at which dementia progresses varies from patient to patient.

Dementia usually develops slowly and may not be diagnosed in its early stages because patients are able to compensate for their forgetfulness. Alzheimer's disease mostly affects people older than 65. In fact, about one third of people aged 85 and older are thought to have some degree of dementia. Dementia is not considered to be a normal part of aging, and dementia should not be confused with isolated mild forgetfulness that many older people experience. Over time, Alzheimer's disease patients are unable to follow conversations and may lose their ability to speak. As Alzheimer's disease progress, patients become dependent on others and may be bedridden.

There is no known cure for Alzheimer's disease; talk to a health care professional about the availability of some treatments which slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

Explore this Alzheimer's Disease Condition Guide now for a world of Alzheimer's disease information and to learn more about dementia and its effects on patients with Alzheimer's disease.

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