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Alzheimer's Disease & Related Dementias Basics of Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills and, eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. It is the most common cause of dementia in older adults. While dementia is more common as people grow older, it is not a normal part of aging. Alzheimer's Disease Fact Sheet Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. In most people with Alzheimer’s,  symptoms  first appear in their mid-60s. Estimates vary, but experts suggest that more than 5 million Americans may have Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer's disease is currently ranked as the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, but recent estimates indicate that the disorder may rank third, just behind heart ...

What Is Alzheimer's Disease? Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills and, eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. In most people with the disease—those with the  late-onset type —symptoms first appear in their mid-60s.  Early-onset Alzheimer’s  occurs between a person’s 30s and mid-60s and is very rare.  Alzheimer’s disease  is the most common cause of  dementia  among older adults. The disease is named after Dr. Alois Alzheimer. In 1906, Dr. Alzheimer noticed changes in the brain tissue of a woman who had died of an unusual mental illness. Her  symptoms  included memory loss, language problems, and unpredictable behavior. After she died, he examined her brain and found many abnormal clumps (now called amyloid plaques) and tangled bundles of fibers (now called neurofibrillary, or tau, tangles). These plaques and tangles in the ...

Dementia and Alzheimer's: What Are the Differences? Dementia vs. Alzheimer’s Dementia  and  Alzheimer’s disease  aren’t the same. Dementia is an overall term used to describe symptoms that impact memory, performance of daily activities, and communication abilities. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. Alzheimer’s disease gets worse with time and affects memory, language, and thought. While younger people can develop dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, your risk increases as you age. Still, neither is considered a normal part of aging. Although symptoms of the two conditions may overlap, distinguishing them is important for management and treatment. Dementia Dementia is a syndrome, not a disease. A syndrome is a group of symptoms that doesn’t have a definitive diagnosis. Dementia is a  group of symptoms  that affects mental cognitive tasks such as memory and reasoning. Dementia is an umbrella term that Alzheim...

Can I Protect Myself From Alzheimer's Disease? Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, and it affects over 5 millionAmericans. The incidence is expected to grow as people live for longer. What causes  dementia , including Alzheimer's, remains a mystery, but research suggests that while genetic factors are likely to play a role, some environmental factors increase the risk. It follows that lifestyle measures may reduce it. These include not smoking, being physically active, eating a balanced, healthy diet, maintaining good cardiovascular health, and exercising the brain. Early diagnosis and prevention of chronic diseases and conditions, such as  hypertension ,  high blood pressure , high blood  cholesterol ,  diabetes ,  obesity  in mid-life, and  depression  may also help. Even healthy factors not traditionally linked to dementia, such as vision, hearing, or how well dentures fit may affect the ...

What's to know about Alzheimer's disease? Alzheimer's disease is a neurological disorder in which the death of brain cells causes memory loss and cognitive decline. This is a neurodegenerative type of  dementia  in which the disease starts mild and gets progressively worse. In the US, the most recent census has enabled researchers to give estimates of how many people have Alzheimer's disease. In 2010, some 4.7 million people of 65 years of age and older were living with Alzheimer's disease in the US. The 2013 statistical report from the Alzheimer's Association gives a proportion of the population affected - just over a tenth of people in the over-65 age group have the disease in the US. In the over-85s, the proportion goes up to about a third. The Alzheimer's Association says it accounts for between 60% and 80% of all cases of dementia. Some of the information about Alzheimer's disease also applies to other types of cognitive decline. See our...