Alzheimer's Disease Resource Center - All Articles

Alzheimer's Disease - All Articles

Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder that destroys memory, thinking, and reasoning abilities. Symptoms of Alzheimer’s gradually worsen over several years, and eventually interfere with your ability to function normally and live independently. There’s no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but newer medications can help reduce cognitive decline in people with early stages of the disease, and other medicines can help slow worsening symptoms that affect memory and thinking.

Healthy lifestyle choices, like exercise, proper nutrition, and social engagement, are often part of an Alzheimer’s treatment plan.

Common Questions & Answers

What is life like for people with Alzheimer’s disease?
People with Alzheimer’s experience frequent forgetfulness and memory loss, struggle to problem solve and make decisions, and get confused easily. Over time, these symptoms progress to the point where you can no longer carry out everyday tasks.
Alzheimer’s disease is a disorder of the brain that negatively affects memory, thinking, and reasoning, while dementia is an umbrella term for a decline in mental abilities. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia.
In addition to memory loss, Alzheimer’s disease may cause irritability, agitation, restlessness, and anxiety. People with the disorder may wander off and get lost, lose personal items, become aggressive or paranoid, and act inappropriately in social situations.
While there’s no perfect way to speak to someone with Alzheimer’s, try to avoid condescending language, open-ended questions, and letting your own frustrations take over. If they express false memories or odd ideas, try to distract them instead of engaging.
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Resources
  1. What is Alzheimer’s Disease? Alzheimer’s Association.
  2. Alzheimer’s Disease. Mayo Clinic. November 8, 2024.

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