Alzheimer’s disease

• What is the most common type of dementia?

  Alzheimer's disease
• What type of disease is Alzheimer's?

  Progressive neurological disease
• What brain function does Alzheimer's disease primarily affect?

  Memory
• How does Alzheimer's disease typically progress?

  Starts slowly and worsens over time
• What social behavior change often occurs as Alzheimer's progresses?

  Withdrawal from family and society
• What ultimately happens to bodily functions in Alzheimer's patients?

  They are lost, leading to death
• What are some risk factors for developing Alzheimer's disease?

  Increasing age, family history, head injury
• What symptoms did Dr. Alzheimer observe in the woman he studied?

  Memory loss, language problems, unpredictable behavior
• What did Dr. Alzheimer find in the woman's brain after her death?

  Abnormal clumps (plaques) and tangled fibers
• What are considered main features of Alzheimer's disease?

  Plaques, tangles, and loss of neuron connections
• What happens to neurons in the brain during Alzheimer's disease?

  They lose connections and die
• When does damage to the brain likely begin in Alzheimer's disease?

  A decade or more before symptoms appear
• What occurs during the preclinical stage of Alzheimer's disease?

  People are symptom-free but have toxic changes
• What forms in the brain during the preclinical stage of Alzheimer's?

  Abnormal deposits of proteins, amyloid plaques, and tangles
• What is usually the first sign of Alzheimer's disease?

  Minor memory problems
• What are some initial symptoms of Alzheimer's disease?

  Forgetting conversations, names, and places
• How are initial symptoms of Alzheimer's often mistaken?

  For normal aging
• What are some other symptoms of Alzheimer's disease?

  Confusion, disorientation, speech problems
• What personality changes may occur in Alzheimer's patients?

  Aggression, suspicion, and demanding behavior
• What mental health issues may arise in Alzheimer's patients?

  Low mood or anxiety
• Why can diagnosing Alzheimer's disease be challenging?

  Symptoms progress slowly and are often dismissed
• What is needed for a definite diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease?

  Examination of brain tissue
• What happens as Alzheimer's disease progresses to the mild stage?

  Greater memory loss and cognitive difficulties
• What problems may arise in the mild stage of Alzheimer's disease?

  Wandering, trouble handling money, repeating questions
• What occurs in the moderate stage of Alzheimer's disease?

  Damage in areas controlling language and reasoning
• What cognitive issues worsen in the moderate stage of Alzheimer's?

  Memory loss and confusion
• What may people with moderate Alzheimer's struggle with?

  Recognizing family and learning new things
• What symptoms may occur in the moderate stage of Alzheimer's disease?

  Hallucinations, delusions, and impulsive behavior
• What happens in the severe stage of Alzheimer's disease?

  Plaques and tangles spread, brain tissue shrinks
• What is the communication ability of people with severe Alzheimer's?

  They cannot communicate
• What is the dependency level of people with severe Alzheimer's?

  Completely dependent on others for care
• What may happen to a person with severe Alzheimer's near the end?

  They may be in bed most of the time