Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias

Dementia describes a collection of symptoms that are caused by disorders affecting the brain. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. If someone has Alzheimer’s, they may have problems with memory, thinking skills, emotions, behaviour and mood. As the disease progresses, brain function is affected enough to interfere with the person’s normal social or working life.

Alzheimer’s occurs when abnormal protein builds up inside and outside the brain. The cells in the brain eventually die, damaging the connections between the brain’s cells. The loss of these connections lead to the loss of brain function as symptoms of the disease develop. As Alzheimer’s disease moves through each area of the brain, certain functions or abilities are lost.