Final answer:
Behavioral problems in Alzheimer's disease include memory loss, confusion, difficulty with routine tasks, poor judgment, and personality changes. As AD progresses, the severity of behavioral issues increases, leading to total dependency and loss of basic functions. Treatment focuses on symptom management and prevention research.
Step-by-step explanation:
Behavioral Problems Associated with Alzheimer's Disease
The behavioral problems associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) can be severe and significantly impact daily functioning. Smelling problems may serve as an early warning sign for Alzheimer's. Common symptoms that manifest as part of cognitive and behavioral problems include disruptive memory loss, confusion about time or place, difficulty with planning and executing tasks, poor judgment, personality changes, and problems with movements and speech. As the disease progresses to moderate and severe stages, patients may exhibit increased memory loss, language deficits, inability to recognize family members, wandering, inappropriate behaviors, agitation, and difficulty with daily activities. In the final stages, they become fully dependent on care for basic functions like bladder and bowel control.
On a molecular level, Alzheimer's disease involves the development of amyloid plaques between neurons and neurofibrillary tangles inside neurons, contributing to synapse loss and neuron death. There is no cure for AD, yet current treatments aim to manage symptoms and include drugs to increase acetylcholine neurotransmission, psychotherapy, sensory therapy, and cognitive exercises. Prevention research is ongoing, with focus on risk factors like smoking, obesity, and cardiovascular problems, as well as the benefits of maintaining an intellectually active lifestyle.