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Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia. This disease worsens as it progresses because it ravages the brain.
The cells involved in memory are usually the first to get affected. That is why forgetfulness is a crucial symptom in the onset of the disease.
Symptoms of Alzheimer's during the early stages and even as it progresses include forgetfulness, insomnia, restlessness, change in personality, mental /physical incompetence, confusion, irritability, aggression, mood swings, long-term memory loss and trouble with language /difficulty in finding words.
It's important to note that extreme behaviour at times noticed in Alzheimer's patients is not of free will but that the disease affects the brain. Do not treat adults living Alzheimer's like children, it can be frustrating to them.
The hardest reality about Alzheimer's is how deeply it affects the caregivers. It might be a spouse, relative or hired help. Alzheimer's patients need a lot of attention and this strain weighs heavily on the caregivers. This gets harder when an Alzheimer's patient experiences memory loss and can't perform simple tasks like brushing their teeth or feeding themselves.
Taking care of someone with Alzheimer's creates a social, psychological, physical, emotional and financial burden on the family. The patient can no longer work and this is financially hard if they were a provider. There's also the caregiver's productivity that goes down due to spending a lot of time with the patient.