Differences Between Normal Memory Difficulties and Alzheimer's
Some signs of old age do mirror the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. Forgetfulness and short term memory problems are common to both. More recent events become difficult to retrieve and events of long ago much easier to recall.
The big difference between normal memory difficulties of old age and Alzheimer's disease is the dramatic speed of the progressive loss of memory.
In Alzheimer's disease the person forgets recent events as the stages progress. They lose the ability to recall the past. A person with Alzheimer's disease will, in time, forget what they did earlier in the day, even what happened in the hour before. They forget where they are, who their husband, wife or partner is, what their own name is and ultimately their own sense of self.
Alzheimer's disease destroys billions of nerve cells in the brain and disrupts the chemicals required to communicate information between those cells. Sadly this changes the person you know forever.
Alzheimer's disease progresses from diagnosis to death in about 5-7 years.
