Every year for her birthday, Annie got a card from her grandmother. Sometimes
there was even money for a birthday treat inside. But one year, no card came.
Annie thought maybe her grandmother had just forgotten that it was her birthday,
even though she had never forgotten before. Then, her grandmother forgot to come
to her family's house for a visit one weekend. A few days later, Annie's mom
told her the bad news. Her grandmother had Alzheimer's disease.
What Is Alzheimer's Disease?
We all forget things once in a
while. It isn't strange to forget to send a card for someone's birthday or
return your overdue library book. Forgetting stuff sometimes is a part of
life and it often becomes more common as people age.
But Alzheimer's (say: alts-hi-merz) disease is different
than just forgetting little things every so often. It is a condition that
permanently affects the brain, and over time, makes it harder to remember even
the routine things of every day. At first, a person might forget how to tie a
shoe or a favorite memory from childhood.
But eventually, that person may have trouble remembering the names and faces
of family members - or even who he or she is - on a daily basis.
Alzheimer's disease usually affects people over 65 years of age, and there is no
cure right now.
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