Alzheimer's disease. Computer-enhanced image of the brain of a patient with Alzheimer's disease. The front of the brain is at left, with the cerebellum at the back at lower right. Alzheimer's disease causes atrophy (wasting) of brain tissue, leading to memory loss, confusion, lack of control and death. The incidence of the condition is high, up to a third of people over the age of 85 are affected. Physical symptoms seen here include the widened dark fissures (sulci) between the folds of the brain, caused by shrinkage of the surrounding tissue. There is no cure, and death occurs after several years of decline.