Adult Brain With Alzheimer’s Disease, Severe

What Is Alzheimer’s Disease?

Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder that kills nerve cells in the brain and slowly destroys memory, thinking and other important functions. People with Alzheimer’s also experience changes in behavior and personality.

The symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are known as dementia. More than 6 million Americans, mostly age 65 and older, have Alzheimer’s disease. 

What Causes Alzheimer’s? 

An adult brain contains about 100 billion nerve cells. Signals travel across nerve cells to enable memory, thinking and emotion. Alzheimer's disease causes nerves and tissues in the brain to die. These changes typically begin in the part of the brain that affects learning. 

Two abnormal structures called plaques and tangles are hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease, and interfere with the brain’s ability to send messages cross the nerve cells.

• Plaques are made of a protein called beta-amyloid that builds up in the spaces between nerve cells. 
• Tangles are another protein called tau that become entangled inside the cells.

Alzheimer’s disease is caused by a combination of aging, genetics, and environmental and lifestyle factors. Women are more likely to get Alzheimer’s disease than men, which suggests hormonal factors may contribute to the disease.

What Are the Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease? 

Alzheimer’s disease is degenerative, meaning it slowly gets worse over time. The course of the disease is different for every person.

Mild Alzheimer’s begins with memory loss and other cognitive difficulties. The symptoms may come and go and aren’t always obvious to loved ones.

Moderate Alzheimer’s affects speech, problem-solving and sensory processing. At this stage, the patient gets confused more often and may have trouble recognizing loved ones.

Severe Alzheimer’s is marked by an inability to speak and requires full-time care to perform basic tasks and bodily functions.   

How Is It Treated?

There is no cure for Alzheimer’s. Several medications can help manage symptoms of the disease, as well as its progression by targeting its underlying causes. Most medications work best for people with mild or moderate Alzheimer’s.