Is Alzheimer's disease a form of amnesia?

Although a symptom of Alzheimer's disease is memory loss, it is not a form of amnesia. A person with amnesia may experience loss of recent memory, but it develops suddenly and usually does not worsen with time. Alzheimer's disease has a more comprehensive affect on overall brain capabilities than amnesia. A person suffering from amnesia can maintain daily function and often remembers people, places, and many events. Alzheimer's aggressively attacks of brain tissue, making common tasks more difficult and familiar people strangers.