How rapidly it advances varies from person to person, but the brain disease eventually causes confusion, personality and behavior changes, and impaired judgment. Communication becomes difficult as the person struggles to find words, finish thoughts, or follow directions. Eventually most people with the disease become unable to care for themselves. Today, four million Americans have Alzheimer's disease. Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe the loss of cognitive or intellectual function.
Many conditions can cause dementia.
Dementia related to depression, drug interaction, thyroid and other problems may be reversible if detected early. That's one of the reasons it's important to obtain a professional assessment so that the actual cause can be identified and proper care can be provided. Some of the warning signs include memory loss that affects job skills, problems with language, misplacing things and changes in personality. There isn't a single diagnostic test for Alzheimer's. Instead, doctors or other specialists rule out other conditions through a process of elimination.