What is Alzheimer’s disease?

Dementia refers to a loss in thinking, remembering, and reasoning that is sufficient to interfere with a person’s ability to function in daily life and to independently complete the daily activities required to take care of themselves (such as feeding, dressing, and bathing). Alzheimer's disease is one of the most common causes of dementia. It is an aging-related brain disease, meaning that it can affect the brains of individuals who are older. There are still a lot of unanswered questions about the disease. What is known is that it is a progressive disease, meaning that the longer that someone lives with the disease, the more of the brain it affects. Early on, it mostly affects the hippocampus and surrounding brain tissue, leading to effects on memory. Individuals might experience disorientation, such as not recognizing a location that should be familiar to them. They might not remember recent events. Often, the person retains some memories for the long-ago past, as well as skills, such as knowing how to play a musical instrument. Later in the disease, these memories may also fade. If you know someone with Alzheimer’s disease, the Alzheimer’s association has resources for kids and teens, including some great suggestions for activities that might be enjoyable to do with your loved one living with the disease.