Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are some other causes of confusion, memory lapses, and cognitive decline? Occasional forgetfulness is normal and should not be a cause for concern unless it significantly increases in frequency or interferes with daily living. Some of the causes of cognitive decline, besides AD, include nutritional deficiencies, such as vitamin B12 deficiency; metabolic conditions, including
diabetes, electrolyte imbalance, hypertension (high blood pressure), and kidney, liver, and thyroid disorders; structural disorders like brain tumours, head injuries, normal pressure hydrocephalus, and vascular dementia; degenerative disease, including age-related cognitive decline, diffuse Lewy body disease, Huntington's chorea disease, Parkinson's disease, and Pick's disease; infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS, Creutzfeldt-Jakob, meningitis, encephalitis, and
syphilis; and still other causes, such as anxiety, depression, heavy metal poisoning (for example,
lead poisoning), medication interactions and side effects, overmedication, and seizures.
2. Is there a link between Mad Cow disease and Alzheimer’s disease?
There is no evidence at this time of any connection between Mad Cow disease and Alzheimer's disease even though the symptoms may appear similar.
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