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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
- ApoE (Apolipoprotein E) Genotyping (American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
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How is Alzheimer's Disease Diagnosed?
(National Institute on Aging)
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What Is Dementia? Symptoms, Types, and Diagnosis
(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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5 Things to Know about Complementary Health Practices for Cognitive Function, Dementia, and Alzheimer's Disease
(National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
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About Alzheimer's Disease: Treatment
(National Institute on Aging)
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Alzheimer's Disease at a Glance
(National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
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Alzheimer's Disease Medications
(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
- 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
- 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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About Alzheimer's Disease: Causes
(National Institute on Aging) Also in Spanish
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Alzheimer's Disease in People with Down Syndrome
(National Institute on Aging)
- Alzheimer's Myths (Alzheimer's Association)
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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
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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
Specifics
- Stages of Alzheimer's (Alzheimer's Association)
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's 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)
-
Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures
(Alzheimer's Association)
- FastStats: Alzheimer's Disease (National Center for Health Statistics)
- Gene Expression Signatures of Alzheimer's Disease (National Institute on Aging)
- High Rates of Dementia, Alzheimer's Observed Among Older People with Down Syndrome (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
- Scam Susceptibility May Signal Risk for Cognitive Decline (National Institute on Aging)
- Treatment Horizon (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)
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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: Alzheimer's Disease and Face Masks in Times of COVID-19.
- Article: How a buildup of abnormal proteins in the brain may be...
- Article: ABCA7 links sterol metabolism to the host defense system: Molecular background...
- Alzheimer's Disease -- see more articles
- Causes of Alzeheimer's disease -- see more articles
Reference Desk
- Alzheimer's: Glossary (Alzheimer's Association)
-
Life and Death of a Neuron
(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
Find an Expert
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
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Changes in Intimacy and Sexuality in Alzheimer's Disease
(National Institute on Aging) - PDF Also in Spanish
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Coping with Agitation and Aggression
(National Institute on Aging) - PDF
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Hallucinations, Delusions, and Paranoia
(National Institute on Aging) - PDF
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Helping Family and Friends Understand Alzheimer's Disease
(National Institute on Aging) - PDF Also in Spanish
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Managing Medicines for a Person with Alzheimer's
(National Institute on Aging) - PDF
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Managing Personality and Behavior Changes
(National Institute on Aging) - PDF
- Mental status testing (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
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Urinary Incontinence in Older Adults
(National Institute on Aging) - PDF