Alzheimer's and the Brain

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Many people experience a loss of memory as they get older. This memory loss tends to increase with age, but there is a big difference between normal forgetfulness and Alzheimer's disease. There are three things to know about Alzheimer's: the facts and figures, the seven stages, and the changes in the brain. First of all, what is Alzheimer's? According to The Mayo Clinic, Alzheimer's is a progressive disease that destroys memory and other important mental functions. It is the most common form of dementia; a group of brain disorders that results in the loss of intellectual and social skills ("Alzheimer's Disease"). It is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, and the fifth leading cause of death for people of the age of 65 or older ("2013 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures"). One in every three seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another dementia, and over 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease ("2013 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures"). Next, someone might need to know the seven different stages of the disease and how they effect the patient. In ...

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