Final answer:
While both Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia can present with various symptoms, disruptive memory loss is specifically a core symptom of Alzheimer's disease, characterized by the presence of neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid plaques. Schizophrenia's core symptoms revolve around psychosis, such as hallucinations and delusions, rather than progressive memory loss. Both diseases may sometimes be associated with depression and anxiety, but these are not defining features of either illness. The correct option is 1.
Step-by-step explanation:
Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia both involve complex neurological changes, but the symptoms they share vary. Patients with Alzheimer's disease suffer from disruptive memory loss, which is not only a hallmark of the disease but also one of its earliest symptoms. This is marked by an inability to remember recent events or familiar tasks, and it progresses to more severe memory loss over time. Neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid plaques are classic indicators of Alzheimer's found in the brain.
On the other hand, schizophrenia primarily affects a person's ability to differentiate between reality and imagination, leading to symptoms like hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking. While memory problems can occur, they are not as central to the disease as they are in Alzheimer's. Schizophrenia patients may have problems with executive functioning but do not typically display the progressive memory loss seen in Alzheimer's.
Both disorders can be accompanied by depression and anxiety, which are common comorbid conditions rather than core symptoms. However, these symptoms are not as universally characteristic as memory loss in Alzheimer's. While both diseases have complex and varied presentations, it is the memory loss associated with Alzheimer's that aligns with the question's focus on high AB and NFT, which are amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles respectively.