Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia, affecting almost 500,000 people in the UK.

The term "dementia" describes a loss of mental ability associated with gradual death of brain cells.

The exact cause of Alzheimer's disease is unknown, although a number of things are thought to increase your risk of developing the condition. These include:

• increasing age
• a family history of the condition
• previous severe head injuries
• lifestyle factors and conditions associated with cardiovascular disease

Signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive condition, which means the symptoms develop gradually and become more severe over the course of several years.

The first sign of Alzheimer's disease is usually minor memory problems. For example, this could be forgetting about recent conversations or events, and forgetting the names of places and objects.

As the condition develops, memory problems become more severe and further symptoms can develop, such as:

• confusion and disorientation
• personality changes, such as becoming aggressive, demanding and suspicious of others
• hallucinations (seeing things that are not there) and delusions (believing things that are untrue)
• problems with language and speech
• problems moving around without assistance

Can Alzheimer's disease be prevented?

As the exact cause of Alzheimer's disease is not clear, there is no known way to prevent the condition. However, there are some steps you can take that may help reduce your risk or delay the onset of dementia, such as:

• stopping smoking if you smoke and cutting down on alcohol
• eating a healthy, balanced diet
• having regular health tests as you get older
• staying physically fit and mentally active

Taking these steps also has other health benefits, such as lowering your risk of cardiovascular disease and improving your overall mental health.

*Source: nhs.co.uk