Question:
Many older people worry about becoming more forgetful. They thinkforgetfulness is the first sign of Alzheimer's disease. In the past,memory loss and confusion were considered a normal part of aging.However, scientists now know that most people remain both alert and ableas they age, although it may take them longer to remember things.

A lot of people experience memory lapses. Some memory problems areserious, and others are not. People who have serious changes in theirmemory, personality, and behavior may suffer from a form of braindisease called dementia. Dementia seriously affects a person's abilityto carry out daily activities. Alzheimer's disease is one of many typesof dementia.

Can anyone give me some more information about this disease???

Answer: The term dementia describes a group of symptoms that are caused bychanges in brain function. Dementia symptoms may include asking the samequestions repeatedly; becoming lost in familiar places; being unable tofollow directions; getting disoriented about time, people, and places;and neglecting personal safety, hygiene, and nutrition. People withdementia lose their abilities at different rates.

Sometimes older people have emotional problems that can be mistaken fordementia. Feeling sad, lonely, worried, or bored may be more common forolder people facing retirement or coping with the death of a spouse,relative, or friend. Adapting to these changes leaves some peoplefeeling confused or forgetful. Emotional problems can be eased bysupportive friends and family, or by professional help from a doctor orcounselor.

The two most common forms of dementia in older people are Alzheimer'sdisease and multi-infarct dementia (sometimes called vascular dementia).These types of dementia are irreversible, which means they cannot becured. In Alzheimer's disease, nerve cell changes in certain parts ofthe brain result in the death of a large number of cells. Symptoms ofAlzheimer's disease begin slowly and become steadily worse. As thedisease progresses, symptoms range from mild forgetfulness to seriousimpairments in thinking, judgment, and the ability to perform dailyactivities. Eventually, patients may need total care.