ABSTRACT
How ill is the patient with Alzheimer’s disease? He usually looks quite healthy and exhibits no signs of physical suffering, such as emaciation, shortness of breath or pain.
During the greater part of the course of the illness there are no clear symptoms of physical disability, such as occur for instance in patients with serious arthritis or after a stroke. An extensive physical examination does not usually reveal anything particular. The patient does not as a rule seem subject to evident prolonged mental suffering, such as occurs with someone with a serious depression. He quite often even makes a carefree impression to the outsider.
