Alzheimer's disease is a specific illness which produces particular changes in the brain that result in the death of brain cells and ultimately the symptoms of dementia. The dementia of Alzheimer's is of sufficient magnitude to interfere with a person's ability to function at home or work. Memory loss, problems with judgment, and difficulty with language are often components of the dementia symptom complex. Once the symptoms are recognized, the next step is to determine the illness or condition responsible for the dementia. Alzheimer's disease is the most commonly recognized illness responsible for dementia in individuals over the age of 65.
Memory loss is always an early and prominent feature of the illness, but it is only one component.
In addition, as the disease progresses, it often alters a patient's personality and produces socially inappropriate behavior. The progression of Alzheimer's disease may last up to 20 years in some individuals. People in the final stages require 24-hour care, as they become completely dependent for even the most basic activities such as eating, bathing, and using the bathroom. Near the end, patients become bed-bound and mute. Because the changes are so profound and occur over a relatively long period, they have a deep effect on the families of people with Alzheimer's and on those responsible for their care.