Alzheimer's and Your Loved One
Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia. Dementia is a term that is used to describe a group of brain disorders. These brain disorders make it harder to carry out daily tasks. Alzheimer’s involves the parts of the brain that control thought, memory, and language. The disease affects the brain in different ways. One effect is that a key brain chemical is lost. It is called acetylcholine. In part, this loss can contribute to some of the symptoms of Alzheimer's.
The cause of Alzheimer's is not yet known. Age is the main known risk factor. Today, it is thought that more than 5 million people in the US have Alzheimer's. It mostly affects those aged 65 or older. At age 65 to 74, up to 5% of people have it. Up to half of those aged 85 and up have the disease. Learn more about Alzheimer’s with our free guide. Sign up for your copy.
Things to look for
When a loved one has Alzheimer's disease, there are some things you may see:
- Memory loss
- Repeating the same thing over and over
- Difficulty naming items
- Losing things or getting lost more often
You may also see changes in the way they behave. These changes may become more pronounced with time.
Your loved one may have a hard time with other tasks:
- Using the phone
- Dressing appropriately
- Planning or preparing meals
- Playing a game
You may know that there is no cure for Alzheimer's. But, there are treatments that may help. One such treatment is Aricept. Aricept is the only treatment proven effective for all stages of Alzheimer's disease—mild, moderate, and severe. Studies showed Aricept treats Alzheimer's symptoms, slowing the loss of overall function and improving cognition. And, it has helped people be more like themselves longer.
Aricept is the #1 prescribed Alzheimer's drug. Learn more about Aricept.