Alzheimer's Disease Dementia.

Alzheimer's disease is a chronic, progressive dementing illness. It produces changes in nerve cells of the brain, particularly in the cerebral cortex, the part of the brain responsible for human intelligence, creativity, memory, learning, problem solving, reasoning, and judgement.

Comes on gradually, and has no known cure.

Diagnosis is made from a series of physical neurological and psychiatric tests.

Brain cells are damaged due the accumulation of reurofibrillary tangles and plaques or the loss/change of neurotransmitters.

Progresses through several stages.

Time from diagnosis to death may range from 5-18 years.

Death usually results from malnutrition or infection.

Over half of all people that have dementia in the United States have Alzheimer's.

Alzheimer's is the leading cause of Dementia.

Occurs early onset is 45-50 years, late onset is over 60.

Thought to parallel in reverse the development stages of a child.

Studies show that by 2012 60% of people will have Mental Dementia.

Seven Warning Signs of Alzheimer's Disease.

1. Asking the same questions over and over again.

2.Repeating the same story, word for word, again and again.

3. Forgetting how to do activities that were previously done with ease and regularity.

4.Losing one's ability to pay bills or balance checkbook.

5.Getting lost in familiar surroundings or misplacing household items.

6. Neglecting to bathe, or wearing the same clothes while insisting that they have taken a bath or their clothes are clean.

7. Relying on another person to make decisions or answer questions they previously would have handled themselves.