Understanding Alzheimer's Disease
Exploring the causes, symptoms, treatments, and support for those affected by Alzheimer's disease.
Exploring the causes, symptoms, treatments, and support for those affected by Alzheimer's disease.
What is Alzheimer's Disease?
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurological disorder that causes brain cells to degenerate and die.
Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia, affecting over 50 million people worldwide. It accounts for 60-70% of dementia cases.
Alzheimer's symptoms typically develop slowly and worsen over time, eventually becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks.
Age is the greatest risk factor, with most people diagnosed after age 65. Family history and genetics also play important roles.
Alzheimer's causes brain shrinkage, death of brain cells, and formation of abnormal protein deposits known as plaques and tangles.
A healthy brain has billions of neurons that communicate through electrical and chemical signals.
In early stages, protein deposits begin to form and some neurons start to function less efficiently.
In advanced stages, there is widespread cell death and significant brain shrinkage.
Alzheimer's by the Numbers