Which statement accurately describes Alzheimer's disease?

Alzheimer's disease is accurately described as a progressive disease that destroys memory and other important mental functions. This neurodegenerative disorder primarily affects older adults and is characterized by the gradual decline in cognitive abilities, including memory, reasoning, and the ability to perform daily activities. It involves the accumulation of amyloid plaques and tau tangles in the brain, which leads to cell death and brain atrophy over time.

In contrast, the other options describe conditions that do not relate to Alzheimer's disease. Genetic disorders primarily affecting movement are more representative of conditions like Huntington's disease or Parkinson's disease, which involve motor control rather than cognitive decline. A temporary condition caused by stress might refer to something like acute stress reaction or situational anxiety, which do not involve the irreversible changes seen in Alzheimer's. Lastly, brain cancer affecting cognitive skills would involve tumors that could impact brain function but would not be classified as Alzheimer's disease, which is a specific form of dementia rather than a type of cancer. Thus, describing Alzheimer's disease accurately highlights its nature as a chronic, debilitating condition that progressively impairs cognitive functions.