No CrossRef data available.
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 March 2009
Of all the diseases afflicting the elderly, the degenerative brain disorder, known as Alzheimer's disease, may be the crudest because it kills its victims twice. The mind dies first. The patients display decreased knowledge of recent events, both about their own personal lives and the world around them. Decreased performance is manifested in demanding situations at work, traveling, and managing personal finances. These symptoms are commonly accompanied by anxiety, denial, social withdrawal, and loss of initiative. The patients' performances on psychometric tests are well below average, yet they may be able to function safely in a limited familiar environment with familiar routines.