Alzheimer's disease is a brain disorder that causes dementia and a loss of mental abilities. The brain cells of Alzheimer's patients become damaged by abnormal proteins called plaques and tangles. This disease may be diagnosed with early testing.

Alzheimer's disease is an incurable and unpreventable disease. There are certain risk factors that Alzheimer's patients have in common. However, the exact cause of the disease is undetermined.

Alzheimer's disease is a form of dementia, which is the loss of social and intellectual abilities to degree that day-to-day functioning becomes impaired. According to MayoClinic.com, approximately 5 percent of individuals between 65 and 74 years of age suffer from Alzheimer's; while close to 50 perc

Inability to get a good night sleep and resulting daytime drowsiness is displayed in many older adults, especially those with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia. Sleep problems contribute to physical deterioration and mood problems. Caregivers of those with Alzheimer's disease have diffi

The central nervous system is composed of millions of nerve cells (neurons) and other tissues which control the body's every function. Like with any other body system, there are diseases and conditions which have an effect on the central nervous system's ability to perform its function. One of those

Short-term memory loss is a common problem that affects people of all walks of life. Characterized by the inability to remember recent events or actions (especially after new information has been absorbed), those suffering from short-term memory loss often have difficulty with daily life, even thoug

What does it mean when my doctor refers to cognitive symptoms?

How Alzheimer's Disease Affects the BrainThe brain contains over 100 billion nerve cells, or neurons. These neurons have trillions of connecting points that allow signals to travel through the neurons to produce memory, thoughts and feelings. Alzheimer's disease destroys neurons, which...

Have you heard the phrase, "He's oriented times three"? What does that mean, and how is cognitive orientation assessed in dementia?

Alzheimer's is a degenerative brain disease that affects cognition, memory and social abilities. The disease is not a normal part of growing old; it is a disorder that gets worse with age, according to the Mayo Clinic website. Currently, there is no known cure. Available treatments focus on reducing

Exelon and Namenda are both Alzheimer's drugs prescribed in varying stages of the disease. They act to slow the symptoms, which include memory loss, depression, disorientation, mood swings. Together, however, these drugs can greatly improve the quality of life for an Alzheimer's patient.

Learn how thyroid disorders including hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can affect your ability to concentrate, remember, react and visually process information.

Have you ever experienced that tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon? That's a frequent frustration for many people, including those who are living with Alzheimer's and other dementias. Learn about some of the causes of word-finding difficulties, as well as some practical suggestions for how to res

Pathophysiology studies changes in function of an organ or tissue caused by a disease or an injury. According to the Mayo Clinic and American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), there are two main pathophysiological changes in the brain found in Alzheimer's disease: plaques and tangles.

You've misplaced your keys and wonder if it's simple forgetfulness or something more serious. Talking to your family doctor is the first step to understanding what kind of memory loss you're facing. If a specialist is needed, your family doctor might refer you to a neurologist or a geriatric psychia

Memory is important for a number of reasons. It helps us learn new information as well as plan for the future. People of all ages can have memory difficulties, from teenagers to aging adults. While some changes in memory are a natural part of aging, a great part of memory retention is...

Learn how being overweight or obese can affect your chances of developing Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.

AIDS Dementia Complex, or ADC, is one of the neurological conditions associated with AIDS and is an AIDS-defining illness. According to HIV InSite, there is a high morbidity rate associated with ADC, especially when severe. ADC impacts motor skills, cognition and sometimes behavior and is thought to

Dementia is a loss of cognitive function beyond what is normally associated with aging. Although generally associated with age, dementia can occur during other stages of adulthood. Early diagnosis is key to coping effectively with the onset of dementia-related illnesses. Memory testing is the prim

Hallucinations can occur in several types of dementia, but people with Lewy body dementia are particularly prone to experience repetitive hallucinations. Learn more about this phenomenon, including some tips for responding to and treating hallucinations in Lewy body dementia.