neurodegenerative
Alzheimer's disease
disease (AD) is a disease and is the most common form of , accounting for around 60–70% of cases. The most common early symptom is difficulty in remembering recent events. As the disease advances, symptoms can include problems with language, disorientation, mood swings, loss of motivation, self-neglect, and behavioral issues. As a person's condition declines, they often withdraw from family and society. Gradually, bodily functions are lost, ultimately leading to death. Although the speed of progression can vary, the average life expectancy following is three to twelve years.
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Symptoms — what it feels like
- ·Memory loss, problems with language, disorientation, mood swings
Causes — why it happens
- ·Poorly understood
How it's found
- ·Based on symptoms and testing after ruling out other possible causes
Complications
- ·, falls and in the terminal stage
Outlook
- ·100% , life expectancy 3–12 years
Did you know?
The main genetic risk allele for Alzheimer's is markedly rarer in Indians
APOE-e4 is ~5% in Gujaratis and ~9% in South Asians overall, versus 16% in Europeans and 27% in Africans.
Source: 1000 Genomes phase 3
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See all of Brain & Nerves →Plain-language summary adapted from Wikipedia. Not medical advice.