ask: How does Alzheimer's disease affect the ear, nose and throat?

Hi Anonymous

Thanks for your question and thank you for looking out for your relative! Alzheimer's is a disease of the brain so does not break the body's systems down, like liver or kidney disease might. Since this condition is generally diagnosed in older people, organs and body functions may be limited anyway, whether they have Alzheimer's or not.

Our Encyclopedia has this information for you :

The disease begins as mild memory lapses. It moves to profound loss of memory and function. Alzheimer's disease is divided into three stages:

* Early—memory and cognition loss are noticeable but still able to function independently
* Intermediate—mental loss, personality changes more dependent on others for basic needs
* Severe—loss of personality and bodily functions; total dependence for care

Symptoms include:

* Increasing trouble remembering things, such as
o How to get to familiar places
o Names of friends and family members
o Where common objects are kept
o Simple math
o How to perform tasks (eg, cooking, dressing, bathing)
* Trouble concentrating on tasks
* Trouble completing sentences due to lost or forgotten words (progresses to a complete inability to speak)
* Difficulty with daily life tasks such as bill paying and housekeeping
* Inability to remember the date, time of day, season
* Mood swings
* Withdrawal, loss of interest in usual activities
* Slow, shuffling walk
* Poor coordination
* Slowness and then loss of purposeful movement

http://www.empowher.com/media/reference/alzheimers-disease#definition

The Alzheimer's Association may also be able to help you: www.alz.org

Good luck in your research and we wish your relative the best!