We often think of dementia as a natural part of the aging process but this really isn’t true. Dementia can be caused by a number of things, including illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, and other forms of brain injury. Side effects of certain medications may cause dementia-like symptoms, as well. Old age by itself may cause some memory loss but does not cause dementia. The technical definition of dementia is severe impairment or loss of intellectual capacity and personality integration, due to the loss of or damage to neurons in the brain. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. When someone has Alzheimer’s, they don’t just lose their memory. They lose their ability to think and to reason. They become unable to learn new things. Their personality changes. Some early warning signs of dementia or Alzheimer's disease include forgetting recently learned information, difficulty performing familiar tasks (forgetting how to make a telephone call, for example), problems remembering the right words when talking, disorientation (for instance, forgetting where you are or getting lost in your own neighborhood), misplacing things in strange places, changes in mood or behavior, and changes in personality. While some forgetfulness and changes in mood and personality are normal parts of the aging process, these are much more severe in someone with Alzheimer’s disease. If you or someone you know experiences several of these symptoms, you should be evaluated for the possibility of Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. Alzheimer’s is a progressive, degenerative disease of the brain. There is medical treatment that can slow the progression, but Alzheimer's drugs are no cure. One type of drug used in Alzheimer’s treatment is a cholinesterase inhibitor. These drugs are designed to stop the breakdown of acetylcholine, a chemical messenger in the brain that is important for memory and other thinking skills. Another type of Alzheimer's drug is an NMDA (uncompetitive low-to-moderate affinity N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist). These drugs work by regulating the activity of glutamate, a chemical messenger in the brain that is involved in learning and memory. As the disease progresses, Alzheimer’s care involves providing a safe environment for the patient to live in. People with Alzheimer’s function best with a regular day-to-day routine. They become easily confused and may begin to wander. Many nursing homes have locked units for Alzheimer’s patients for this reason; otherwise, patients may wander outdoors and become lost. They may hoard things, such as food, and may keep it in strange places, such as putting the food under their mattress instead of in the kitchen cupboards. Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease at home can be a difficult task for family members and often placement in a skilled nursing home is the best solution. The typical life expectancy of someone with Alzheimer’s disease is eight to ten years from the onset of symptoms; however, some people live for twenty or more years with the disease. For much of this time, they will require at least some assistance or care. For part of the time before their death, they will require around-the-clock care and supervision. There are community agencies that can provide help and support for families, and these should be taken advantage of when possible because it is a big task to care for someone with Alzheimer’s disease.