Alzheimer's is caused by the death of brain cells. It is a neurological disorder in which brain cell death leads to a loss of memory and a cognitive decline. The total brain shrinks in Alzheimer's, nerve cells and tissue connections that cannot be seen or tested in the living brain affected by Alzheimer's disease, post - mortem / autopsy always shows small inclusions in nerve tissues called plaques and tangles. Plaques are found between dying cells in the brain-from the development of the beta-amyloid (amyloid plaques) protein.

Diagnosis: AD is typically diagnosed after healthcare providers perform tests and look at health history to help determine whether a person's memory problems or other mental skills are declining over time. Your doctor may:

• Ask about your medical history, your ability to carry out routine tasks, and changes in your behaviour or personality.
• Perform tests to assess your memory, problem solving, attention, counting, and language skills.
• Order medical tests to check your urine, blood, and spinal fluid.
• Conduct brain scans, such as a computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test.

Symptoms:

• Inability to communicate
• Inability to recognize oneself or family
• Weight loss
• Difficulty swallowing
• Groaning or grunting
• Increased sleeping
• Lack of bowel and bladder control