Most of us see that as a person ages, his ability to remember the simplest of things begins to weaken. This forgetfulness is what is known as Alzheimer’s disease in medical terms. Alzheimer’s disease is a very common type of dementia that affects a person’s thinking, memory and behaviour. Statistics have shown that Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, with 60 to 80 per cent of dementia cases being Alzheimer’s. It is usually the common term that refers to loss in memory and other cognitive disabilities that can impact one’s everyday life.Contrary to the popular belief, Alzheimer’s is not a by-product of aging. Though aging is a very big risk factor for the incidence of this disease, many people below the age of 65 also have the disease. An American based study on Alzheimer’s incidence in different age groups showed that about 2 lakh Americans who were below the age of 65 had the disorder.Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease as the severity of the disorder keeps getting worse. The symptoms will worsen and patient may even lose the ability to hold on to a conversation as he will keep forgetting what the conversation was about. They may often lose their way and can even forget their own names and faces. They will lose their ability to speak, read and write. They will become socially withdrawn, with frequent changes in mood, agitation, and will become apathetic towards their surroundings in general.As Alzheimer’s is a neurodegenerative disease, it is caused by the death of brain cells. The size of the brain begins to shrink and the connections between nerve cells keep getting lesser and lesser. Currently, there is no cure for this disorder but there are ways in which the symptoms of the disease can be controlled.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-a-z/alzheimers-disease/diseasearticle/55220784.cms
