What Is Alzheimer

While anybody can be affected by this problem, the people older than 65 are the more affected. Still, there are some cases that are diagnosed when they are just 30 years old but these cases are very rare and only represent a low percentage of the total number of cases. One out of 10 people above the age of  65 has Alzheimer and nearly half of these patients are over 85 years old. Almost 19 million Americans have one family member who suffers from this dreadful problem.

In addition to old age, the historical of dementia of the family can dispose someone to the disease. This is because a problem in the genetic mutations has been pointed out as one of the causes. In fact, environmental factors as hobbies and mental exercises are things that can help prevent the problem.

What is difficult with Alzheimer is that its symptoms are basically the same as ordinary signs of old age. 
At the beginning, there will be some memory loss. The person also experiences confusion and disorientation even with things that he is used to do. The difficulty is to be sure making the difference between normal memory loss and real symptom of the disease.

Usually, there is a gradual memory loss. The sufferer will find it hard to read or to write or to think clearly. After, he will experience a decrease of the ability to perform automatic or routinely tasks. The patient may forget how to brush his teeth or how to use a fork.

In addition of forgetfulness,  routinely tasks are altered.
There will be worry in learning new things and in memorizing things. Some patients may slowly forget vocabulary and stop speaking with others. They also will no longer recognize the members of their family. Obvious changes will be observed in the way they communicate with other people and the way they behave.

There is actually no change of personnality. The problems with memorization may make the sufferer suspicious perhaps because he cannot recognize the people that he knows from before. Some may become fearful and passive for the simple fact that they cannot remember you. 

As the disease progresses, the sufferer will be unable to take care of himself. He will require help in eating, moving and sleeping.