Alzheimer's Disease is a progressive, irreversible neurological disorder that affects an estimated 5 million American adults. It is a degenerative disease that attacks the brain and results in impaired memory, thinking and behavior. Alzheimer's Disease usually develops gradually.
Problems remembering recent events and difficulty performing tasks are early symptoms.
Additionally, the Alzheimer's patient may experience confusion, personality change, impaired judgement and difficulty finding words, finishing thoughts, or following directions. How quickly these changes occur will vary from person to person but the disease eventually leaves its victims totally unable to care for themselves. Alzheimer's Disease is more likely to occur as a person gets older. The disease is the fourth leading cause of death in adults, and currently ranks as the third most expensive illness to treat in America. While it is generally the very old who are impacted by this devastating disease, a growing number of cases involving people in their forties and fifties are being diagnosed.