Mayo Clinic Alzheimer Disease: Overview and Early Symptoms

Which statement best defines Alzheimer’s disease?

• A bacterial infection that affects the lungs

• The most common cause of dementia marked by protein buildups that damage brain cells

• A temporary memory problem caused by stress

• A normal part of aging that does not change the brain

About how many people in the United States age 65 and older live with Alzheimer’s disease?

• About 690,000

• About 6.9 million

• About 55 million

• About 70% of all adults

Which early symptom is most typical of Alzheimer’s disease?

• Sudden improvement in memory of old events

• Forgetting recent events or conversations

• Constant high fever

• Increased ability to multitask

A person begins misplacing items in odd places, struggles to find words, and gets lost in familiar areas. These signs best fit which category of Alzheimer’s symptoms?

• Thinking and reasoning

• Changes in personality and behavior

• Memory problems

• Making judgments and decisions

Someone with Alzheimer’s pays bills late, has trouble handling numbers, and makes poor clothing choices for the weather. Which two symptom areas are most directly involved?

• Thinking and reasoning; Making judgments and decisions

• Memory; Changes in personality and behavior

• Planning familiar tasks; Memory

• Social withdrawal; Depression

Which of the following is listed as an advanced behavioral symptom that can appear in Alzheimer's disease?

• Improved sense of direction

• Anger or aggression

• Faster reaction time

• Enhanced problem-solving

Which activity is an example of a preserved skill that some people with Alzheimer's may keep even as symptoms worsen?

• Solving complex math equations

• Learning a new language quickly

• Listening to music or singing

• Driving in unfamiliar cities

When should a person or family member consider talking to a healthcare professional, according to the material?

• Only after memory loss lasts for one year

• Whenever concerned about memory or other thinking skills

• Only if there is a known family history

• After trying home remedies first

What happens when beta-amyloid fragments clump together in the brain?

• They repair damaged neurons

• They form larger deposits called amyloid plaques

• They turn into tau proteins

• They improve communication between brain cells

How do tau proteins contribute to cell damage in Alzheimer's disease?

• They produce extra nutrients for neurons

• They organize into neurofibrillary tangles that disrupt the transport system

• They remove amyloid plaques from brain cells

• They increase connections between neurons