Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, marked by amyloid plaques and tau tangles that progressively damage brain cells, typically starting in memory regions. Its hallmark early sign is difficulty forming new memories — recent conversations and events fade while older memories persist — followed over years by gradual changes in language, orientation, and daily-task ability. Knowing the Alzheimer's pattern helps caregivers understand that repeated questions and forgotten visits are symptoms of a disease, not choices, and helps families seek diagnosis early, when planning and available treatments matter most. Throughout the illness the person's emotions, need for connection, and capacity for joy remain.
Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, driven by amyloid plaques and tau tangles that progressively damage brain cells beginning in memory regions. This lesson explains why forming…