Which areas of the brain are primarily affected by Alzheimer's disease?

Prepare for the DSST Lifespan Developmental Psychology Exam. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions with detailed explanations. Ace your test with confidence!

Alzheimer's disease primarily affects areas of the brain involved in memory, speech, and personality. Specifically, it causes degeneration in the hippocampus, which is crucial for forming new memories, and other regions such as the temporal and parietal lobes that are important for language and social behavior. This neuronal loss leads to the hallmark symptoms of Alzheimer’s, including memory loss, difficulty in communicating, and changes in behavior and personality.

The other choices, while they represent important brain functions, do not directly correlate with the primary impacts of Alzheimer's. For instance, motor coordination and balance are more related to areas such as the cerebellum, which are not typically affected until the later stages of dementia. Visual processing and creativity involve other regions, including the occipital lobe and associated areas, which may not show early signs of deterioration in Alzheimer's. Lastly, attention and impulse control are often governed by the frontal lobes, which are impacted in various forms of dementia but not as directly as memory and personality changes seen in Alzheimer’s disease. Thus, choice B accurately captures the primary areas affected by Alzheimer's, reflecting the disease's impact on cognitive functions essential for daily living.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy