Thursday, February 3, 2011

Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia among older people. Dementia is a brain disorder that seriously affects a person's ability to carry out daily activities. AD begins slowly, first involves the parts of the brain that control thought, memory and language.
Alzheimer's disease can be categorized into early onset-Alzheimer's disease and late onset- Alzheimer's disease. People with AD may have trouble in remembering things that happened recently or names of people they know. Over time, symptoms get worse. People may not recognize family members or have trouble speaking, reading or writing. They may forget how to brush their teeth or comb their hair. Later on, they may become anxious or aggressive, or wander away from home. Eventually, they need total care. This can cause great stress for family members who must care for them. AD usually begins after age 60. The risk goes up as one get older.The risk is higher if a family member has the disease.

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