Alzheimer's disease
is a progressive degenerative disease of the brain characterized by dementia,
an irreversible decline in memory, reason, communication skills, orientation,
and the ability to carry out the simplest of tasks.
While the onset
of Alzheimer's is generally after the age of 65, a rare form of the disease can
develop at the age of 30. Although the possibility of having Alzheimer's increases
with age, the disease is not caused by aging but rather a genetic predisposition.
However, scientists still do not know the exact cause of Alzheimer's or even
how to confirm a final diagnosis other than by an autopsy. While there is currently no cure for Alzheimer's, nerve growth factor gene therapy
can successfully reduce the severity of the symptoms.
