What is Alzheimer's Disease?
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About 10% of all individuals over 65 years of age, and 35% of those over 80, suffer from some form of dementia. 50 to 70 percent of all people with dementia suffer from Alzheimer's disease - a degenerative disease, which slowly and progressively destroys brain cells. The disease was named after Aloïs Alzheimer, a German neuropatholgist who, in 1907, first described brain lesions (plaques and tangles) in a patient who manifested the symptoms of dementia during life. The disease affects memory and mental functioning (e.g. thinking and speaking), but can also lead to other problems such as confusion, changes of mood, and disorientation in time and space. At first the symptoms - such as difficulty with memory and loss of intellectual abilities - may be so slight that they go unnoticed, both by the person concerned and his or her family and friends. However, as the disease progresses, the symptoms become more and more noticeable and begin to interfere with work and social activities. Practical difficulties with daily tasks such as dressing, washing, and going to the toilet gradually become so severe that in time the person becomes totally dependent on others. As yet, there is no preventative or curative treatment for Alzheimer's disease. However, a number of drugs exist, which slow the progression of the disease and help alleviate some symptoms such as agitation, anxiety, hallucinations, and insomnia. 
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