It is common form of dementia occurring in old individuals. It seriously affects the person’s ability to carry out daily activities. It usually begins after age 60.

It is caused due to formation of abnormal clumps called amyloid plaques and tangled bundle of fibers called neurofibrillary tangles

It affects the brain which control thought, memory and language. The persons affected will have trouble in speaking, reading or writing.

It is a slowly progressive disease of brain occurring in old age which is characterized by impairment of memory and eventually causing disturbances in reasoning, planning, language and perception.

Signs and symptoms

• Memory loss
• Trouble remembering recent events, activities or names of familiar people or things.
• Disorientation to time, place
• Poor or decreased judgement.
• Problems with abstract thinking
• Misplacing things.
• Suspicious
• Fearful
• Loss of initiative.
• Dependent on a family member
• Mood swings
• Language breakdown
• Aggression
• Long term memory loss
• Confusion
• Irritability

Diagnosis and tests

• Behavioral assessments
• Cognitive tests
• Brain scan

Risk factors

• High blood pressure
• Coronary artery disease
• Diabetes
• High cholesterol

Treatment

There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease.