What Alzheimer’s disease is and what it’s sexual conflicts are.

Alzheimers disease is a progressive neurologic disease of the brain that leads to the irreversible loss of memory, judgment, decision-making, orientation to surroundings, and language due to deterioration of neurons. It is the most common of all neurodegenerative diseases. It is deduced by many scientists that “Alzheimer's disease results from an increase in the production or accumulation of a specific protein (beta-amyloid protein) in the brain that leads to nerve cell death. Ten percent of people over 65 years of age and 50% of those over 85 years of age have Alzheimer's disease (Crystal, Howard)”. Along with the symptoms listed above, Alzheimer’s disease may also cause changes in a person’s sexual behavior. These changes do not always mean the person’s sexual behavior and needs are lessened, many times their sexual behavior and needs actually increase. Sorry to break it to you all but it is true, your parents and your grandparents still have sex.

Can an individual with Alzheimer’s disease consent to sexual acts?

In a nursing home, this alteration in sexual desire may be illustrated through a resident acting out in a sexual manner such as undressing in front of other residents or even in an aggressive sexual manner, such as inappropriately touching another resident or employee. The question that is raised when it comes to people with Alzheimer’s disease and their sexuality is, do they have the ability or mental capacity to consent to sexual relations between a spouse or some sort of partner?