Alzheimer’s Disease
Also called: AD
Summary
Symptoms
Diagnosis and Tests
Prevention and Risk Factors
Treatments and Therapies
Learn More
Living With
Related Issues
Specifics
Genetics
Research
Statistics and Researches
Resources
Summary———–Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia among older people. Dementia is a brain disorder that seriously affects a person’s ability to carry out daily activities.
AD begins slowly. It first involves the parts of the brain that control thought, memory and language. People with AD may have trouble remembering things that happened recently or names of people they know. A related problem, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), causes more memory problems than normal for people of the same age. Many, but not all, people with MCI will develop AD.
In AD, over time, symptoms get worse. People may not recognize family members. They may have trouble speaking, reading or writing. They may forget how to brush their teeth or comb their hair. Later on, they may become anxious or aggressive, or wander away from home. Eventually, they need total care. This can cause great stress for family members who must care for them.
AD usually begins after age 60. The risk goes up as you get older. Your risk is also higher if a family member has had the disease.
No treatment can stop the disease. However, some drugs may help keep symptoms from getting worse for a limited time.
NIH: National Institute on Aging
Start Here
About Alzheimer’s Disease: Alzheimer’s Basics From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute on Aging)
Alzheimer’s Disease (American Academy of Family Physicians)
Alzheimer’s Disease NIHSeniorHealth (National Institute on Aging)
Alzheimer’s Disease From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute on Aging) Also in Spanish
Alzheimer’s Disease Information Page From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
Alzheimer’s Disease: Unraveling the Mystery From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute on Aging)
Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease From the National Institutes of Health Easy-to-Read (National Institute on Aging) Also in Spanish
Latest News
Healthy Diet, Exercise May Help Keep Alzheimer’s At Bay (08/17/2016, HealthDay)
Fewer Advanced Alzheimer’s Patients on Feeding Tubes (08/16/2016, HealthDay)
Underweight Seniors May Have Added Alzheimer’s Risk (08/05/2016, HealthDay)
More News on Alzheimer’s Disease
Symptoms
10 Early Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer’s (Alzheimer’s Association) Also in Spanish
About Alzheimer’s Disease: Symptoms From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute on Aging)
Diagnosis and Tests
About Alzheimer’s Disease: Diagnosis From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute on Aging)
ApoE (Apolipoprotein E) Genotyping (American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
Diagnostic Guidelines for Alzheimer’s Disease — Frequently Asked Questions for the General Public From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute on Aging)
Prevention and Risk Factors
About Alzheimer’s Disease: Risk Factors and Prevention From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute on Aging)
Brain Health (Alzheimer’s Association)
Preventing Alzheimer’s Disease: What Do We Know? From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute on Aging)
Treatments and Therapies
About Alzheimer’s Disease: Treatment From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute on Aging)
Alternative Treatments (Alzheimer’s Association)
Alzheimer’s Disease at a Glance From the National Institutes of Health (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
Alzheimer’s Disease Medications From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute on Aging) Also in Spanish
How Can Music Help People Who Have Alzheimer’s Disease? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Time to Talk: 5 Things to Know about Complementary Health Practices for Cognitive Function, Dementia, and Alzheimer’s Disease From the National Institutes of Health (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
Treatments for Alzheimer’s Disease (Alzheimer’s Association) Also in Spanish
Treatments for Sleep Changes (Alzheimer’s Association)
