Recently updated on January 19th, 2026 at 09:13 am
Alzheimer’s disease is one of the leading type of dementia and is very common among older adults. It is basically a neurological disorder that results in the shrinking of the brain and the death of brain cells. The condition is named after Dr Alois Alzheimer, who discovered it. He noticed changes in a woman’s brain cells who had died due to an unknown mental illness. He examined tangled bundles of fibers and abnormal clumps that are still thought to be causes of the disease.
What is Alzheimer’s disease?
Here is everything you need to know about this disease:
Alzheimer’s disease Symptoms:
The early Dementia signs and symptoms may vary from person to person. Our brain changes exactly the way our body does as we age. A slight weakening of memory, confusion or slowed thinking are a normal part of aging. However, Alzheimer’s disease begins by damaging the brain area that affects learning. Its most evident symptoms include:
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Memory Loss:
Memory loss is one of the significant symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and appears in the disease’s early stages. The person starts forgetting the newly learned information, dates, and events—the need to rely on memory aids such as sticky notes and a reminder on electronic devices increases. The help of family members becomes crucial.
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Difficulty in Solving Problems and Doing Daily Tasks:
It often becomes to carry out daily tasks for people living with dementia. They find it difficult to recall the familiar location and drive there. Organizing a Meal Plan for seniors, paying monthly, or simply remembering the rules of their favorite game becomes trouble.
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Time and Place Confusion:
Losing track of time and location is among the signs of Alzheimer’s disease. People become forgetful of where they are or how they reached there. It becomes hard for them to remember the year, date, or even the season they are living in.
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Difficulty Understanding Spaces and Visual Images:
People living with Alzheimer’s find it hard to estimate the distance. They often fail to recognize colors and read. These symptoms deprive them of driving and doing their tasks like they used to.
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Losing Things:
Memory loss is one of the most common Alzheimer’s disease signs. People living with the disease keep misplacing their things by putting them in unusual places. They often accuse those around them of stealing their stuff as the symptoms of the disease progress.
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Problem Writing and Speaking:
Losing track of the conversation can be witnessed in people living with Alzheimer’s. They often find it difficult to continue talking or keep repeating themselves. Also, they struggle with speaking, finding the correct vocabulary, and naming everyday objects.
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Losing Focus:
Alzheimer’s patients quickly lose their focus on work and social activities. They find it very hard to hold conversations.
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Change in Personality:
Memory loss comes with the inability to judge situations properly. Mood and personality changes become common in Alzheimer’s patients. They often experience depression, anxiety, fear, confusion, or suspicion.
What causes Alzheimer’s disease?
To simply put, Alzheimer’s disease causes are still not fully understood. Basically, the brain proteins fail to function properly, which triggers toxic events in the brain and disrupts its proper functioning. When brain cells, i.e. neurons, lose connection, they eventually die.
Some scientists also believe that Alzheimer’s disease is caused by different genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors.
The damage usually starts from the part of the brain that controls memory. The process of brain damage begins way before the symptoms become apparent. However, the loss of neurons happens in a predictable manner, and during the late stages of the disease, the brain shrinks significantly.
To better understand the causes of Alzheimer’s disease, researchers are focused on the role of two proteins:
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Tangles:
Tau protein is specifically essential to brain health as it carries and transports important material and nutrients to the brain cells that maintain their health. However, Alzheimer’s disease makes the tau protein change its shape and create a ‘neurofibrillary tangles’ structure. The tangles lead to failure of transportation of essential nutrients to the brain leading to their death.
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Plaques:
Beta-amyloid is the main component of plaque found in the brain of a person who has Alzheimer’s disease. They disrupt the cell to cell communication and hinder the proper functioning of the brain. The plaques also consist of debris from other cells.
How to prevent Alzheimer’s disease?
The complete prevention of Alzheimer’s disease is not possible. However, some lifestyle changes can help decrease the chances of falling prey to it and other health issues that can lead to dementia. Here is what you do to stay healthy:
- Exercise programs promoting physical activity, such as outdoor yoga and fitness classes, are now standard in senior communities and are linked to improved mobility, cognitive function, and fall prevention.
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Custom nutrition guidance is increasingly integrated into care plans, supporting cholesterol control, diabetes prevention, and cardiovascular health, with meal planning tools and caregiver support helping seniors maintain healthy diets.
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Remote patient monitoring (RPM) devices and telehealth enable ongoing monitoring of blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol, allowing for early intervention and medication management to reduce hospital readmissions and improve outcomes.
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Smoking cessation is integrated into wellness programs, often alongside annual health checkups and counseling, contributing to better long-term health metrics.
Despite every possible preventive measure, routine health checkups and continuous symptom monitoring through technology platforms allow for earlier detection and management of neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s disease. As we age, integrating annual checkups with remote monitoring and predictive analytics can help identify symptoms early and improve outcomes.
In today’s care landscape, technology plays a crucial role in supporting individuals with Alzheimer’s. Digital memory aids, such as electronic reminder devices and memory care apps, help maintain routines, while artificial intelligence analyzes health data for early detection of cognitive decline. Telehealth platforms and remote monitoring tools enable continuous care, improving management and quality of life for those affected.