Alzheimer's is a type of neurodegenerative disease that causes problems with memory, thinking and behaviour. Its main characteristics are the progressive loss of memoryand other intellectual skills as the neurons die and different parts of the brain get atrophied.
This disease has an average duration of 10 years from its diagnosis, although it depends on its seriousness when it is detected.
Alzheimer's is the most common kind of dementia. It is incurable and terminal and uses to occur to people older than 65.
The earliest sign is often the inability of acquiring new memories, which is usually mistaken for stress or aging. As the illness progresses other symptoms appear, such as mental confussion, irritability, mood changes or language disorders.