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Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of the dementia experienced by the elderly. It is a brain disorder named for the German physician Alois Alzheimer who first described it in 1906. It is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized in the brain by abnormal clumps (amyloid plaques) and tangled bundles of fibers (neurofibrillary tangles) composed of misplaced protein. Age is the most important risk.

Symptoms include memory loss, language deterioration, impaired ability to mentally manipulate visual information, poor judgment, confusion, restlessness and mood swings. Eventually Alzheimer’s disease destroys cognition (the ability to think), personality, and the ability to function. The early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, which includes forgetfulness and loss of concentration, are often missed because they resemble natural signs of aging.

There is no cure. For some in the early or middle stages of Alzheimer’s disease medication may alleviate some cognitive symptoms. Other medication may help control behavioral symptoms such as sleeplessness, agitation, wandering, anxiety and depression.

Learn how a Mediterranean Diet can help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, as well as help increase the lifespan of patients with Alzheimer’s disease.

Research Update on Aging
Learn about important findings from The Salk Institute for Biological Studies

The Alzheimer's Environment
Find ideas for modifying the enviroment for Alzheimer's Patients

What is Hoarding?
Learn strategies for helping people with Dementia & Alzheimer's Disease

Stress & Alzheimer's Caregivers
Learn strategies for coping and reducing stress

Wandering & Alzheimers' Disease
Learn strategies for helping people with Dementia & Alzheimer's Disease

Learn the signs of Alzheimer’s Disease in this educational video produced by the Alzheimer’s Association.  Find support systems and options available to you and your family. Learn about the importance of the Alzheimer’s Association and their role in providing education and support to the local communities.

Alzheimer's Association Education Video

Learn more about Alzheimer’s Disease

Helpful information and resources about this common disease in the elderly can be found on the Alzheimer’s Association website , the National Institute on Aging (NIA) area of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) website, and the MedlinePlus website.

Frequently asked questions are answered on the National Institutes of Health Senior Health and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke websites.

Information about caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease, along with other health topics can also be found on the National Institute on Aging and the National Library of Medicine (both part of the National Institutes of Health) website.