Questions?
Just call and talk to us:
888-633-4298
6am-7pm, Monday-Friday
8am-5pm, Saturday
Pacific Time
Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder named for German physician Alois Alzheimer, who first described it in 1906. Scientists have learned a great deal about Alzheimer’s disease in the century since Dr. Alzheimer first drew attention to it.
Today we know that Alzheimer’s:
Is a progressive and fatal brain disease. As many as 5.3 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer's destroys brain cells, causing problems with memory, thinking and behavior severe enough to affect work, lifelong hobbies or social life. Alzheimer’s gets worse over time, and it is fatal. Today it is the seventh-leading cause of death in the United States. For more information, see Warning Signs and Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease.
Is the most common form of dementia, a general term for the loss of memory and other intellectual abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 50 to 70 percent of dementia cases. Other types of dementia include vascular dementia, mixed dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, and frontotemporal dementia.
Has no current cure. But treatments for symptoms, combined with the right services and support, can make life better for the millions of Americans living with Alzheimer’s. There is an accelerating worldwide effort under way to find better ways to treat the disease, delay its onset, or prevent it from developing. Learn more about recent progress in Alzheimer's research funded by the Alzheimer’s Association.
*Source: Alzheimer's Association
The health information on this website is for general background purposes and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific conditions. Seek prompt medical attention for healthcare questions you have. Consult your physician before making changes to your medication, diet, or fitness program.
Facts & Figures
5.3 million people in the United States are living with Alzheimer’s.
» Every 70 seconds, someone develops Alzheimer’s.
» Alzheimer's is the seventh-leading cause of death in the United States.
» Alzheimer's and dementia triple healthcare costs for Americans age 65 and older.
» The direct and indirect costs of Alzheimer's and other dementias to Medicare, Medicaid, and businesses amount to more than $148 billion each year.
*Source: Alzheimer's Association
