What is Alzheimer's disease?
Disease description:
My grandmother often experiences memory lapses. After taking her to the hospital for an examination, she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. I don't know much about this condition myself and would like to understand: what is Alzheimer's disease?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Lv Zhiqin
Alzheimer's disease, also known as senile dementia, is a neurodegenerative disorder of the central nervous system that occurs in old age or prior to old age. Its main characteristics are progressive impairment of cognitive function and behavioral abnormalities, which severely affect the patient's daily life and social functioning.
Alzheimer's disease is a chronic, gradually progressive condition. In the early stages, it manifests mainly as memory loss, especially difficulty remembering recent events, followed gradually by a comprehensive decline in cognitive function, including language, visuospatial skills, and executive function.
The exact cause of Alzheimer's disease is not yet fully understood, but it may be related to genetic factors, pathological changes in the brain, lifestyle, and environmental factors. In the early stages, patients may only experience memory decline, but as the disease progresses, they may develop significant cognitive impairments, behavioral abnormalities, language disorders, and other symptoms, eventually leading to a loss of the ability to perform activities of daily living.
