The Alzheimer’s disease is a chronic neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system which is characterized in mild form by progressive memory loss and reductions of other memory cognitive brain functions. It is an “old age” disease, although sporadic cases can occur in people before the age of 65.
The initial symptoms of the disease are mild memory and other cognitive function loss that often go unnoticed not only by the patient but also by their family members. As the disease progresses, everyday life activities such as social relations, managing finances, self-care, driving etc are gradually affected.
Over the years these difficulties become so serious that the patient is entirely dependent on others. Many times, these difficulties include also behavioral disorders like aggression, apathy, sleep and appetite disorders, hyperactivity.
Early diagnosis is very important not only for the effective disease management by the patients themselves and for the ensuring of the quality of patients’ lives but also for the relatives or the persons who look after the patients to be better informed and prepared to handle the problems the disease causes to their loved ones but also to them. Diagnosis is the first step in planning for the future.