Glossary / Lexicon

Alzheimer's disease refers to a progressive, irreversible disease characterized by degeneration of the brain cells and commonly leading to severe dementia.

It is degenerative brain disorder characterized by memory loss followed by increasing disorientation and culminating in total physical and mental helplessness and death. One of the major sites of the destruction is a pathway of acetylcholine-releasing cells leading from the base of the forebrain to the cortex and hippocampus.

Alzheimer's disease, or AD, is a progressive, incurable disease of the brain caused by the degeneration and eventual death of neurons (nerve cells) in several areas of the brain.

Patients with AD first lose such mental functions as short-term memory and the ability to learn new things. In the later stages of AD they gradually lose control over their sense of condition characterized by memory loss, confusion, depression, restlessness, hallucinations, delusions, sleeplessness, and loss of appetite.

Articles with 'Alzheimer's disease' in the title

• Caspase theory of Alzheimer's disease: Caspase theory of Alzheimer's disease refers to the proposal that beta amyloid stimulates substances called Caspases, which become enzymes that destroy neurons

Summary

Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects memory and other cognitive functions. It is the most common form of dementia, characterized by the buildup of abnormal proteins in the brain that lead to the loss of neurons and synapses. Individuals with Alzheimer's often experience difficulties with language, reasoning, and problem-solving, as well as changes in personality and behavior. The progression of the disease is gradual, eventually leading to a loss of independence and the need for full-time Care.

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