It starts simply enough, with those memory failures that are common to everyone: losing keys, getting lost in an unfamiliar place, or forgetting the name of a new acquaintance. As months and years go by, however, people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease have trouble recognizing where they are, have difficulty writing and speaking, and forget how to perform routine daily tasks like washing their hands or getting dressed.
Log in
Subscribers, enter your e-mail address for full access to the Science News archives and digital editions.