Alzheimer's, the most common form of dementia, is a neurodegenerative disease that mostly affects older adults.
A person with Alzheimer's can experience many difficulties in everyday life, such as getting lost, having trouble completing simple tasks and having a hard time communicating with others.
Alzheimer's most common symptom is a decline in memory. Other symptoms of Alzheimer's may include difficulty planning things, solving problems, handling finances like paying bills and following instructions. Often, those diagnosed with Alzheimer's will struggle to complete tasks that are familiar to them, as misplaced objects and tools used daily may be difficult to find.
While Alzheimer's disease affects individuals usually over the age of 65, it can appear in adults younger, too, which is referred to as early-onset Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer's progresses at different rates for all individuals. In the early stages of Alzheimer's, patients can often function primarily on their own. As symptoms become more severe in later stages, additional care may be necessary.
