Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disease, ranked as the sixth leading cause of death in the USA .  There is no treatment or cure for Alzheimer’s Disease. It is the most common form of dementia followed by vascular dementia.    The third most common dementia is Lewy Body dementia.  Dementia is not a specific disease but characterized as  a group of diseases that have  symptoms associated with a decline in thinking skills and memory.  Memory loss is NOT a normal part of aging.  Dementia  is also associated with other diseases such as Parkinson’s disease .

Alzheimer’s Disease is diagnosed based on a person’s symptoms which are grouped into one of three stages: early, middle and late stage.  In the early stages, a person or close family or friends may notice mild symptoms such as losing/misplacing an item, not remembering names of new people, difficulty organizing or planning, forgetting the correct word or name for an object and difficulty completing familiar tasks.  Symptoms in the middle stage include behavior/personality changes, difficulty remembering where they live, forgetting the day/time/month/year, difficulty choosing clothing appropriate to the weather, wandering or becoming lost, forgetting events and needing help with toileting.  The symptoms often seen in late stage include difficulty communicating, not knowing where they are or what has recently occurred, difficulty with walking, eating and sitting, needing 24-hour care and help with all personal cares, and being at risk for infections. 

While there is no cure or treatment for Alzheimer’s, it is important to see your health care provider as soon as you suspect you or a loved one may be experiencing any of these symptoms.  Early detection is important in order to manage symptoms in the early stages and to get the appropriate help and resources/ support for both the person with Alzheimer’s and for their loved ones.