Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative brain condition that affects memory, thinking, and behavior. It is the most common cause of dementia in older adults, and it currently affects over 5 million people in the United States alone.
While the exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease is unknown, scientists believe that it may be a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors.
The Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease progresses through three main stages:.
1. Early Stage
During the early stage of Alzheimer’s, individuals may experience mild cognitive impairment, which affects their ability to remember new information. They may also become easily distracted or lose track of their daily activities.
At this stage, people with Alzheimer’s may begin to withdraw from social activities and have difficulty completing familiar tasks.
2. Middle Stage
In the middle stage of Alzheimer’s, individuals may require more assistance with daily living tasks such as bathing, dressing, and eating.
They may also begin to experience personality and behavior changes, including depression, anxiety, agitation, and irritability. Communication may become more difficult, with those affected struggling to find the right words or understanding what others are saying.
3. Late Stage
The late stage of Alzheimer’s is the most severe. At this stage, individuals typically require round-the-clock care, as they lose their ability to communicate and become completely dependent on others for their basic needs.
They may also experience physical symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, incontinence, and difficulty eating or drinking.
How Alzheimer’s Affects Memory
One of the hallmark symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease is the progressive loss of memory. As the disease progresses, individuals will experience difficulties with both short-term and long-term memory.
Related Article
A touching animation about Alzheimer’s disease that went viral
Short-term memory involves the ability to remember information over a period of seconds to minutes, such as remembering a phone number that has just been given to you. Long-term memory involves the ability to remember information from weeks, months or even years ago.
The hippocampus is the area of the brain responsible for forming and retaining memories. In individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, microscopic changes occur in this region of the brain, which leads to the formation of plaques and tangles.
These plaques and tangles interfere with communication between nerve cells in the brain, which makes it increasingly difficult for the hippocampus to form and retain new memories.
How Alzheimer’s Affects Thinking and Behavior
In addition to affecting memory, Alzheimer’s disease also affects thinking and behavior. As the disease progresses, individuals may experience a decline in their ability to plan, problem-solve and make decisions.
They may also experience changes in personality, mood, and behavior.
People with Alzheimer’s disease may become paranoid, fearful or agitated, particularly in unfamiliar situations. They may also exhibit repetitive behaviors or perform the same tasks over and over again.
As the disease progresses, individuals may also lose their ability to recognize familiar objects or people, which can lead to confusion and disorientation.
Conclusion
Alzheimer’s disease is a complex condition that affects many aspects of an individual’s life. While there is currently no cure for the disease, researchers continue to study the underlying causes and potential treatments.
Understanding how Alzheimer’s affects the brain and memory is the key to providing better care and support for individuals and families affected by the disease.
