What is Alzheimer's Disease?
via Alz.org:
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Alzheimer's is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks.
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Alzheimer's and dementia basics
- Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia, a general term for memory loss and other intellectual abilities serious enough to interfere with
daily life. Alzheimer's disease accounts for 50 to 80 percent of dementia cases.
Learn more: What We Know Today and Understanding Dementia.
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Alzheimer's is not the only cause of memory loss. Many people have trouble with memory — this does NOT mean they have Alzheimer's. There are many different causes of memory loss. If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of dementia, it is best to visit a doctor so the cause can be determined.Learn more: Visiting Your Doctor |
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- Alzheimer's is not a normal part of aging, although the greatest known risk factor is increasing age, and the majority of people with Alzheimer's are
65 and older. But Alzheimer's is not just a disease of old age. Up to 5 percent of people with the disease have early onset Alzheimer's (also known as younger-onset), which often appears when someone
is in their 40s or 50s.
Learn more: Early Onset Alzheimer's and Risk Factors - Alzheimer's worsens over time. Alzheimer's is a progressive disease, where dementia symptoms gradually worsen over a number of years. In its
early stages, memory loss is mild, but with late-stage Alzheimer's, individuals lose the ability to carry on a conversation and respond to their environment. Alzheimer's is the sixth leading cause of
death in the United States. Those with Alzheimer's live an average of eight years after their symptoms become noticeable to others, but survival can range from four to 20 years, depending on age and
other health conditions.
Learn more: 10 Warning Signs and Stages of Alzheimer's Disease. - Alzheimer's has no current cure, but treatments for symptoms are available and research continues. Although current Alzheimer's treatments
cannot stop Alzheimer's from progressing, they can temporarily slow the worsening of dementia symptoms and improve quality of life for those with Alzheimer's and their caregivers. Today, there is a
worldwide effort under way to find better ways to treat the disease, delay its onset, and prevent it from developing.
Learn more: Standard Treatments, Treatment Horizon, Prevention and Clinical Trials.
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