Memory loss or Alzheimer’s disease is the most common and leading cause of dementia. It is characterized by a gradual decline in memory, associated with the degeneration of neurons in the brain, and is most often observed in older adults.

Alzheimer’s disease is caused by the accumulation of a protein called beta-amyloid, which is insoluble. When beta-amyloid binds to brain cells, it leads to neuronal degeneration and shrinkage, as well as impaired communication between brain cells due to a reduction in acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter directly involved in memory.

The buildup of beta-amyloid gradually reduces brain function, starting in the hippocampus, which plays a key role in forming new memories. When neurons in this area are damaged, patients first experience short-term memory problems. The damage then spreads to other regions of the brain, affecting learning, cognition, language, and behavior.