阿尔茨海默氏病病情开始进展缓慢。最初的病症是轻度的健忘。

In this stage, people may have trouble remembering recent events, activities, or the names of familiar people or things.

在这一阶段，患者可能难以记忆最近发生的事，参加的活动，或者熟悉人、事的名字。

They may not be able to solve simple math problems. Such difficulties may be a bother, but usually they are not serious enough to cause alarm.

他们可能不能计算简单的数学题。这些问题都是麻烦事，但是通常还不足以引起患者的高度重视。

However, as the disease goes on, symptoms are more easily noticed. People in the middle stages of AD may forget how to do simple tasks, like brushing their teeth or combing their hair.

但是，随着病情的发展，症状会被发现的。处于中度痴呆期的患者可能难以自理，比如自己刷牙或者自己梳头。

They can no longer think clearly. They begin to have problems speaking, understanding, reading, or writing. Later on, people with AD may become anxious or aggressive, or wander away from home.

他们的思维不再清晰。他们开始在说，理解，阅读或者写作方面存在障碍。接着，患者开始变得急躁不安，或者想离家出走。

Eventually, patients need total care. AD is a slow disease, starting with mild memory problems and ending with severe brain damage. No treatment can stop AD.

最终，病人需要全面的治疗。阿尔茨海默氏病是慢性疾病，开始于轻度的记忆障碍，结束于严重的大脑损伤。目前没有特效方法能够阻止它。

However, for some people in the early and middle stages of the disease, some dugs may help prevent some symptoms from becoming worse for a limited time.

但是，对于处于轻度或者中度病情的人来说，服用一些药物能够在短期内减缓病情的恶化。

Developing new treatments for AD is an active area of research. Research has shown that vitamin E, estrogen, and ginkgo biloba slow the progress of AD.

开发新的能够治愈痴呆病的疗法是研究领域的一个热点。研究发现维他命E， 雌性激素和银杏能够减缓该病的进展。