What is Alzheimer's?

Alzheimer's is a type of dementia that affects memory, thinking, and behavior. Symptoms eventually grow severe enough to interfere with daily tasks.

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Alzheimer's is not a normal part of aging. The greatest known risk factor is increasing age, and the majority of people with Alzheimer's are 65 and older. Alzheimer’s disease is considered to be younger-onset Alzheimer’s if it affects a person under 65. Younger-onset can also be referred to as early-onset Alzheimer’s. People with younger-onset Alzheimer’s can be in the early, middle or late stage of the disease.

Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia, a general term for memory loss and other cognitive abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer's disease accounts for 60-80% of dementia cases.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

Alzheimer's symptoms can vary, but here are the key stages of the disease and the corresponding signs:

  • Memory Loss: Forgetting recent events, conversations, or names, especially things recently learned.
  • Difficulty with Problem Solving: Struggling to plan or solve simple problems, like following a recipe or managing bills.
  • Confusion with Time or Place: Losing track of dates, seasons, or the passage of time.
  • Difficulty in Familiar Tasks: Trouble performing daily tasks like driving to a familiar location or remembering the rules of a favorite game.
  • Misplacing Objects: Frequently misplacing things and having difficulty retracing steps to find them.
  • Mood and Personality Changes: Becoming confused, anxious, or easily upset, particularly in new environments.

  • Memory Loss: Forgetting personal history, such as their address or phone number.
  • Difficulty with Language: Trouble finding the right words, following conversations, or repeating phrases.
  • Problems with Movement: Developing difficulties with coordination, such as trouble walking or sitting.
  • Behavioral Changes: Greater mood swings, agitation, aggression, or delusions (e.g., believing people are stealing from them).
  • Disorientation: Becoming lost in familiar places and needing help with dressing or bathing.

  • Significant Memory Loss: Inability to recognize close family and friends.
  • Severe Communication Difficulties: Loss of the ability to speak coherently or respond to the environment.
  • Need for Full-Time Assistance: Requiring help with basic activities such as eating, walking, and toileting.
  • Physical Decline: Loss of mobility, difficulties swallowing, and susceptibility to infections like pneumonia.

Current Treatments and Research

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There is no cure, but treatments can ease symptoms and make life better. Currently, symptomatic treatments prescribed in the early to moderate stages of the disease involve medications such as cholinesterase inhibitors, like donepezil, and NMDA receptor antagonists, like memantine, to manage cognitive decline. Symptoms that might occur along with the primary disease include depression, anxiety, and aggression, which could be treated with medication.

Exciting advances in the study of Alzheimer's disease are seeking to slow the course of the disease, and also promote early detection. Therapies that aim to target amyloid, like Aducanumab, commercially known as Aduhelm, seek to rid the brain of amyloid plaques-a classic hallmark of Alzheimer's. Tau-targeting treatments-against tangles of proteins which cause disruption in the functioning of the brain-are under clinical trials. Immunotherapies and gene-editing technologies such as CRISPR are in studies with the aim to alter the course of the disease at a molecular level.

Besides this, interest in early diagnosis through biomarkers and advanced imaging has been on the rise; this would enable timely intervention. Other promising areas include stem cell therapies and those directed at neuroinflammation. While there is no cure yet, the rapid pace of research brings hope that more effective treatments-and even strategies for prevention-may be around the corner.

Educational Resources

Alzheimer's Association

The leading nonprofit focused on Alzheimer’s care, support, and research.

Alzheimer’s Foundation of America

Offers educational materials on Alzheimer’s and other dementias.

National Institute on Aging

Provides information on Alzheimer's research and health resources.

Caregiver Support

Caring for someone with Alzheimer's can be emotionally and physically exhausting. These resources are designed to provide caregivers with the support and tools they need.

Caregiver Resource Center

A comprehensive set of resources for caregivers, including tips on communication, daily care, and managing behavior changes.

Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA)

Provides a wide range of services including caregiver support groups, education, and legal resources. Alzheimer’s Foundation of America Caregiver Support

Eldercare Locator

Provides information on Alzheimer's research and health resources.

Toll-Free Helpline: 866-232-8484

Offers one-on-one support via phone, email, and live chat. Trained social workers provide guidance, information, and referrals.