Alzheimer’s disease — a medical condition characterized by loss of memory and other intellectual abilities — is one of the conditions that affect the elderly. A main risk factor of this condition is old age. However, younger people could also suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. Research shows 5 percent of people with Alzheimer’s are younger than 60 years. This health condition could be hereditary; transmitted from parent to offspring.
Alzheimer’s is characterized by Dementia, which is the medical term for memory loss. Given the fact that increasing age is a major risk factor for the disease, the elderly population is more susceptible to Dementia. As one advances in age, there is a decline in the functioning of some organs in the body. Similarly, as Alzheimer’s disease advances through the brain, it could lead to more severe symptoms such as mood and behavior changes, anxiety, unfounded suspicions about friends, family and professional caregivers, difficulty in swallowing, walking and speaking.
