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Brain changes and behavior changes with Alzheimer's disease
 (image thanks to the Am. Health Assistance Foundation site on Alzheimer's)
These images represent a cross-section of the brain as seen from the front. The cross-section on the left represents a brain from a brain without Alzheimer's disease and the one on the right represents a brain with Alzheimer's disease. In Alzheimer's disease, there is an overall shrinkage of brain tissue. The grooves or furrows in the brain (sulci) are noticeably widened and there is shrinkage of the folds (gyri) in the brain's outer layer (cerebral cortex). In addition, the ventricles, or chambers within the brain that contain cerebrospinal fluid, are quite obviously enlarged. As mentioned previously, in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, short-term memory begins to decline when the cells in the hippocampus, which is important for learning and memory, degenerate. The ability to perform routine tasks also declines. As Alzheimer's disease spreads through the cerebral cortex , judgement declines, emotional outbursts may occur and language is impaired. Progression of the disease leads to the death of more nerve cells and subsequent behavior changes, such as wandering and agitation. The ability to recognize faces and to communicate is completely lost in the final stages.
To see MRI images of an Alzheimer's diseased brain (from the Harvard Medical School), click on one of the following:
 I see very obvious differences between the Alzheimer brain and the non-Alzheimer brain. I guess that's why there are behavioral differences?!
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