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Individuals over 65 years of age may be at risk of Alzheimers, which is a type of disease that inflicts the brain. It results in a progressive dementia.

This means that a person with dementia as a result of Alzheimers will begin to experience short term memory loss which will develop into more severe memory loss. Eventually it will lead to loss of cognitive functions and ability to perform regular physical activities like feeding and cleaning oneself.

There is no cure or treatment for Alzheimers and patients who suffer from this will eventually pass away from the disease.

Studies continue to be made with regards to dementia caused by Alzheimers and to date, the disease is still somewhat enigmatic. For one, there are no conclusive tests to say what causes Alzheimers and therefore, there are no real steps to avoiding it.

The dementia from Alzheimers however is caused by an abnormal deposit of protein or lipids in the brain that attach itself to the brain’s neurons and general brain mass that cause damage in the brain structure. This targets short term memory initially until the disease continues to irreversibly progress. There are cognitive tests that one can take to be able to be properly diagnosed with dementia caused by Alzheimers.

There are no lab test that can be done however, and only in an autopsy of the brain can one physically see the effects of this disease. A person who has died due to dementia caused by Alzheimers will have a brain that is smaller than average and is smooth.

While the brain matter has natural grooves with an undulating pattern, the abnormal deposit of protein in the brain caused by Alzheimers dementia destroy the brain cells, which make it shrink and become smooth.

Individuals who have dementia caused by Alzheimers will first display a negligible amount of short term memory loss. One will note that the person with Alzheimers may begin to do or say things repetitively after having forgotten that they already did or said something.

For instance, someone suffering from dementia caused by Alzheimers can call and tell you about something, hang up, and call you right back telling you the exact same thing.

The patient or the people around the person suffering from dementia caused by Alzheimers will begin to later notice pronounced memory loss, which the person never gains back again. The patient will also begin to lose memory of words, which will greatly impair their speech.

At later stages of dementia caused by Alzheimers, the patient will necessitate special care. In this case, he or she can be brought to a facility that specializes in care for individuals with dementia caused by Alzheimers. In special facilities like these, people will be taken cared of by trained care givers to ensure that the person’s dignity and rights will continue to be recognized until the end.

Having Alzheimers is difficult not only for the patient but also for the people around him or her. It can be especially painful and difficult for friends and loved ones to find out that someone they care for has it. Education and joining support groups can help loved ones of patients with Alzheimers cope with the transition.

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