Diagnosis & Symptoms
This is often the first sign of Alzheimer’s, involving the inability to form new memories.
What is Short-term memory loss?
This is the greatest known risk factor for developing Alzheimer’s Disease.
What is Increasing age?
Due to loss of coordination and balance, patients are at high risk for this accident.
What are Falls?
Drugs used to improve communication between nerve cells by slowing the breakdown of Acetylcholine.
What are Cholinesterase Inhibitors?
Myth or Fact: Alzheimer’s is a normal and inevitable part of the aging process.
Myth (It is a progressive disease).
The general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life.
What is Dementia?
Abnormal clusters of protein fragments that build up between nerve cells.
What are Amyloid Plaques?
A lung infection caused by inhaling food or liquid due to swallowing difficulties.
What is Aspiration Pneumonia?
The average number of years a person lives after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's.
What is 8 to 10 years?
The name for the version of the disease that affects people in their 40s or 50s.
What is Early-Onset Alzheimer’s?
A phenomenon where confusion and agitation increase in the late afternoon or evening.
What is Sundowning?
Twisted fibers of "tau" protein that build up inside the nerve cells.
What are Neurofibrillary Tangles?
The physical shrinking of brain tissue as neurons die off.
What is Atrophy?
A therapy using photos or music to help patients connect with their past.
What is Reminiscence Therapy?
Many early-stage patients can still do this, though they may eventually lose the license.
What is Drive?
This specific symptom refers to the loss of the ability to use or understand language.
What is Aphasia?
The specific gene on Chromosome 19 that increases the risk of late-onset Alzheimer’s.
What is APOE-ε4?
These two nutritional issues occur when patients forget to eat or drink.
What are Dehydration and Malnutrition?
The primary neurotransmitter responsible for memory that is depleted in Alzheimer's patients.
What is Acetylcholine?
A 1970s myth suggested this metal used in cookware caused the disease.
What is Aluminum?
The only way to confirm an Alzheimer's diagnosis with 100% certainty (performed post-mortem).
What is an Autopsy?
The theory that lifelong learning helps the brain resist symptoms longer.
What is Cognitive Reserve?
Alzheimer's severely disrupts this "internal clock," leading to sleep issues.
What is the Circadian Rhythm (Sleep-Wake Cycle)?
Care focused on providing relief from symptoms rather than curing the disease.
What is Palliative Care (or Hospice)?
Aggressive behavior in patients is usually a result of this emotion, not "meaness."
What is Fear (or Confusion/Frustration)?