Memory problems, Dementia, and Alzheimer's

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Noticing changes

You're not sure what it is, but something isn't right. You may be noticing changes you've never seen. You or your loved one may be repeating or forgetting things, getting irritated easily, or are having trouble doing everyday things.

There are so many questions that can come up. To get closer to some answers, start by learning about memory loss, dementia, and Alzheimer's.

About memory problems, dementia, and Alzheimer's

Memory problems

Forgetting things as we grow older is something many of us may experience. But not all memory problems are just part of normal aging. Memory problems are something you need to pay attention to. Some people with memory problems may be developing something more serious, like Alzheimer's disease.

Dementia and “senility”

Dementia is a word used to describe the progressive loss of cognitive function. It is a disorder of the brain. It affects the areas that allow you to think, speak, reason, remember, and function. Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia. Other common types are:

• Vascular dementia – Occurs when arteries that feed the brain become narrow or blocked. Symptoms may appear abruptly, frequently after a stroke. Or they progress slowly, mimicking Alzheimer's disease. Both Alzheimer's and vascular dementia can occur at the same time. Symptoms of vascular dementia include problems with memory, speech, and vision.
• Lewy body dementia – Abnormal clumps of protein form in the brain. This is similar to what happens with Alzheimer's and Parkinsons's. Symptoms include confusion, rigid muscles, slowed movements, and tremors.
• Frontotemporal dementia – Affecting the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, this type of dementia causes personality and behavior changes. Often running in families, frontotemporal dementia begins to appear between ages 40 and 70.

Senility is not a disease. It is a general term for a variety of disorders that occur in old age. People sometimes use the term "senile" to describe symptoms related to dementia and other disorders.

Alzheimer's

Approximately 5 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease. When someone has Alzheimer's, nerve cells and vital chemicals in the brain are lost over time. This occurs in parts of the brain that are key to memory and other mental processes. One such chemical is called acetylcholine. This chemical helps carry messages from nerve cell to nerve cell in the brain. Alzheimer's may impair thinking and memory by disrupting these messages between cells.

Certain signs and symptoms, like forgetting the names of people close to you or forgetting a recent experience, are hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. The cause of Alzheimer's is not yet known. For most people, Alzheimer's begins after age 65. Less commonly, it can occur at younger ages. Although there is no cure, there are medications that can treat the symptoms of Alzheimer's.