|
Alzheimer's
disease (AD) is a disease of the brain causing brain
cells to shrink and die. It is irreversible and progressive
in that this degeneration of cells spreads throughout
the brain.
The
onset of the disease is usually quite gradual. Like
wise, symptoms appear gradually, but progressively
worsen as the disease spreads. The most common symptoms
are memory loss, confusion, behaviour and mood changes
and the declining abilities to relate and communicate
effectively. Usually the first symptom to appear is
short term memory loss (the inability to remember
recent events).
Alzheimer's
disease was first described by the German neurologist
Alois Alzheimer in 1907. He wrote of a physical disease
in which brain cells are destroyed. The appearance
of this destruction is referred to as "plagues
and tangles".
Alzheimer's
disease is a physical disease, not a mental disorder.
The brain controls everything we think, say, feel
and do. So when the brain becomes diseased, our thoughts,
abilities and behaviours are all affected.
The
symptoms of Alzheimer's disease are often mistaken
as just a normal part of getting older. Many of us
feel that as we age we forget things more easily.
But the forgetfulness of old age is vastly different
to the memory loss of Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer's
disease is NOT NORMAL AGEING.
|
