What is Alzheimer's disease?

Alzheimer's is a progressive disorder of the brain and nervous system apparently caused by the buildup of a type of plaque in the brain. It disrupts the electrical signals between neurons that normally direct thoughts and memories in the brain. The result is that the person slowly becomes more and more forgetful. A certain amount of forgetfulness is normal with aging. But the Alzheimer's patient develops far more disrupted thinking patterns, losing the ability to recognize familiar people, even family memories, eventually. Sometimes, in late stages, their personalities change also, they become paranoid, and they become completely unable to take care of themselves. In the old days, it was called entering one's second childhood. However, scientists are beginning to develop treatments to counteract it. Some can be done at home, some must be prescribed by a physician. Remaining mentally and socially active help to slow its progression, if not prevent it. Physical activity also helps, even if nothing more than walking -- or doing a very slow "Hokey Pokey" from a chair, if that is all that the patient can do. If you are caring for someone with this condition, provide as much mental and social stimulation as the person can handle, and be patient. The person cannot help forgetting things and cannot help the associated emotional changes either. Do consult a physician, too, by all means, as scientists are discovering new things about this serious illness all the time.

Alzheimer鈥檚 disease is a brain disorder named for German physician Alois Alzheimer, who first described it in 1906. Scientists have learned a great deal about Alzheimer鈥檚 disease in the century since Dr. Alzheimer first drew attention to it. Today we know that Alzheimer鈥檚:

Is a progressive and fatal brain disease. As many as 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer鈥檚 disease. Alzheimer's destroys brain cells, causing problems with memory, thinking and behavior severe enough to affect work, lifelong hobbies or social life. Alzheimer鈥檚 gets worse over time, and it is fatal. Today it is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States. For more information, see Warning Signs and Stages of Alzheimer鈥檚 Disease.

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If you are asking this question because you have a loved one that has been diagnosed with Alzheimers you need to know there are alot of resources for you. Also you need to know that Alzheimers can take 20 years to run its course. When my grandma was diagnosed I got a very good book from the library that explained all the symptoms and what to expect. There are also support groups for family members. My Grandma was diagnosed 9 years ago and still knows her family and friends or anything that happened more than a couple of years ago. She just can't remember currrent conversations. This and other symtoms can be frustrating, that is where the books and support groups come in.

It is a mentally disabling disease that attacks the memories and neural functions of the brain.
go to Web MD and see a lot more.