Alzheimer’s disease usually has an insidious onset: individuals start forgetting things and eventually become unable to recognize their loved ones and perform basic daily activities without assistance.
Alzheimer’s disease currently affects about 5% of adults over 60 years of age, and in Italy around 500,000 people are estimated to suffer from this disease. It is the most common type of dementia, a condition characterized by a progressive impairment of the brain functions which causes serious difficulties in day-to-day living. The disease affects memory and cognitive functions, as well as the ability to think and speak, but can also cause confusion, mood swings and disorientation to time and place.
Alzheimer’s disease has a slow progression and, on average, patients live for 8-10 years after diagnosis.