by Angela Mcelroy

Created on: May 27, 2009   Last Updated: May 29, 2009

Many of us forget where we left our keys or maybe even what we had for lunch the day before. Everyone forgets something every once in awhile. However people that develop Alzheimers evenutally forget everything. Most of us have been affected by the devastating affects of Alzheimer's disease. Perhaps you've watched your mother or father become ravaged by the disease. Alzheimer's patients in the beginning stages of the disease know that one day they will no longer remember their family, friends, or may not even remember their own name. The disease takes over the mind and the body. It destroys the individual and the individual's family. It is a painful and exhausting process that eventually ends in death.

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive disease that causes irreversible damage to the brain. The disease destroys memory and thinking skills. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia. Dementia is the loss of cognitive functions such as thinking, remembering, and reasoning. In 60% to 70% of dementia cases Alzheimer's is the culprit. As many as 4.5 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer's disease. The number increases as more and more Americans age.

The disease was first discovered by Alexander Alzheimer in 1906. He noticed the changes in the brain tissue of a noblewoman who died from a strange mental illness. He found that there were abnormal clumps and tangled fibers within the tissues. The clumps he found are now called plaque. These are two of the main features of the disease. The third is the loss of connections between the nerve cells.

The first sign of Alzheimer's disease is memory loss. With the continued progression of the disease comes changes in cognitive abilities. Thinking skills begin to decrease. The memory loss worsens. A person may have problems handling money and paying bills. Tasks that once came easy, begin to take longer to complete. In these mild cases of Alzheimer's the person begins to have personality changes. They also begin to show poor judgement.

In moderated cases of Alzheimer's the memory loss and confusion increases. The person begins to have trouble recognizing family and friends. They have trouble learning new things. The Alzheimer's suffer can no longer carry out tasks that have multiple steps, such as getting dressed. The person begins to see things that are not there. They show signs of paranoia and become very impulsive.

When the clumps and tangles spread throughout the brain the Alzheimer's disease becomes

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