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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
Symptoms
- 10 Early Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer's (Alzheimer's Association)
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What Are the Signs of Alzheimer's Disease?
(National Institute on Aging)
Diagnosis and Tests
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How is Alzheimer's Disease Diagnosed?
(National Institute on Aging)
Prevention and Risk Factors
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Assessing Risk for Alzheimer's Disease
(National Institute on Aging) Also in Spanish
- Brain Health (Alzheimer's Association)
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What Do We Know about Diet and Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease?
(National Institute on Aging)
Treatments and Therapies
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7 Things To Know About Dietary Supplements for Cognitive Function, Dementia, and Alzheimer's Disease
(National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
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Alzheimer's Disease at a Glance
(National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
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Alzheimer's Treatment
(National Institute on Aging)
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How Is Alzheimer's Disease Treated?
(National Institute on Aging) Also in Spanish
- Treatments for Sleep Changes (Alzheimer's Association)
Living With
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Alzheimer's Caregivers: MedlinePlus Health Topic
(National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
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Coping with Agitation and Aggression in Alzheimer's Disease
(National Institute on Aging)
- Diet, Exercise, and Health (Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation)
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Healthy Eating and Alzheimer's Disease
(National Institute on Aging)
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Next Steps after an Alzheimer's Diagnosis
(National Institute on Aging) Also in Spanish
- Resources for People with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (Department of Health and Human Services) Also in Spanish
- Stages and Behaviors (Alzheimer's Association)
- Sundowning: Late-Day Confusion (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
- Tips for Daily Life (Alzheimer's Association)
Related Issues
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Alzheimer's Disease in People with Down Syndrome
(National Institute on Aging)
- Alzheimer's Myths (Alzheimer's Association)
- Alzheimer's Prevention: Does it Exist? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
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Brain Donation: A Gift for Future Generations
(National Institute on Aging) Also in Spanish
- Depression and Alzheimer's Disease (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
-
Do Memory Problems Always Mean Alzheimer's Disease?
(National Institute on Aging)
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Understanding Memory Loss: What To Do When You Have Trouble Remembering
(National Institute on Aging) - PDF
-
Urinary Incontinence in Older Adults
(National Institute on Aging)
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What Causes Alzheimer's Disease?
(National Institute on Aging) Also in Spanish
Specifics
-
8 Frequently Asked Questions about Alzheimer's Disease
(National Institute on Aging)
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Alzheimer's and Hallucinations, Delusions, and Paranoia
(National Institute on Aging)
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Changes in Communication Skills
(National Institute on Aging) - PDF Also in Spanish
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Managing Medicines for a Person with Alzheimer's
(National Institute on Aging)
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Managing Personality and Behavior Changes in Alzheimer's
(National Institute on Aging)
- Stages of Alzheimer's (Alzheimer's Association) Also in Spanish
Genetics
-
Alzheimer disease: MedlinePlus Genetics
(National Library of Medicine)
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Alzheimer's Disease Genetics
(National Institute on Aging)
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If a Family Member Has Alzheimer's Disease, Will I Have It, Too?
(National Institute on Aging)
Videos and Tutorials
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Alzheimer disease
(Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
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How Alzheimer's Changes the Brain
(National Institute on Aging)
Statistics and Research
- Alzheimer's and Dementia Testing for Earlier Diagnosis (Alzheimer's Association)
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Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures
(Alzheimer's Association)
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Certain Antioxidants May Lower Dementia Risk
(National Institutes of Health)
- FastStats: Alzheimer's Disease (National Center for Health Statistics)
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Gene Expression Signatures of Alzheimer's Disease
(National Institute on Aging)
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High Rates of Dementia, Alzheimer's Observed Among Older People with Down Syndrome
(Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)
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New Blood Test May Predict Alzheimer's Disease
(National Institutes of Health) Also in Spanish
- Research on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (Department of Health and Human Services) Also in Spanish
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Scam Susceptibility May Signal Risk for Cognitive Decline
(National Institute on Aging)
- Treatments and Research (Alzheimer's Association)
Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Alzheimer Disease
(National Institutes of Health)
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Common Questions about Participating in Alzheimer's and Related Dementias Research
(National Institute on Aging)
- Find Clinical Trials (Department of Health and Human Services)
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Participating in Alzheimer's Disease Research
(National Institute on Aging)
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People at Genetic Risk for Alzheimer's Disease to Test Prevention Drugs
(National Institute on Aging)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Neuron-derived extracellular vesicles in blood reveal effects of exercise in Alzheimer's...
- Article: Video Intervention and Goals-of-Care Documentation in Hospitalized Older Adults: The VIDEO-PCE...
- Article: Guilingji capsule for Alzheimer's disease: secondary analysis of a randomized non-inferiority...
- Alzheimer's Disease -- see more articles
Reference Desk
- Alzheimer's: Glossary (Alzheimer's Association)
-
Brain Basics: The Life and Death of a Neuron
(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
Find an Expert
- Alzheimer's Association
- Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers: National Research Centers, Local Resources (Department of Health and Human Services) Also in Spanish
- Alzheimers.gov (Department of Health and Human Services) Also in Spanish
-
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Also in Spanish
-
National Institute on Aging
Also in Spanish
Patient Handouts
- Alzheimer disease (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
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Bathing, Dressing, and Grooming: Alzheimer's Caregiving Tips
(National Institute on Aging) - PDF Also in Spanish
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Changes in Communication Skills
(National Institute on Aging) - PDF Also in Spanish
-
Changes in Intimacy and Sexuality in Alzheimer's Disease
(National Institute on Aging) - PDF Also in Spanish
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Helping Family and Friends Understand Alzheimer's Disease
(National Institute on Aging) - PDF Also in Spanish
- Mental status testing (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish