Alzheimer's Disease FAQs
- What is Alzheimer's Disease?
- Who gets Alzheimer's disease?
- What causes Alzheimer's disease?
- What are symptoms of Alzheimer's disease?
- How can Alzheimer's disease be treated?
- How can Alzheimer's disease be prevented?
- What support groups are available for Alzheimer's disease patients and caregivers?
- What research is being done on Alzheimer's disease?
- For More Information
- Synonyms and Keywords
- Authors and Editors
What is Alzheimer's disease?
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive and fatal brain disorder that gradually destroys a person's memory and ability to learn, reason, communicate, and make judgments.
Who gets Alzheimer's disease?
- Approximately 4.5 million Americans and more than 30 million people worldwide have Alzheimer's disease.
- The disease affects all races and ethnic groups.
- Alzheimer's disease seems to affect more women than men.
- Alzheimer's disease mainly affects people aged 60 years and older. The risk of developing Alzheimer's disease increases with age.
Next: What causes Alzheimer's disease? »
| Printer-Friendly Format | | | Email to a Friend |
WebMD Daily
Get breaking medical news.
From WebMD
Alzheimer's Resources
- Alzheimer's: Questions and Answers
- Are You Depressed? Check Your Symptoms
- Early Warning Signs for Alzheimer's Disease
Featured Centers
- Top 10 Asthma Cities
- Health Check: How to Choose The Right Vitamins
- 10 Triggers for the Holiday Blues
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
Read What Your Physician is Reading on eMedicine
Alzheimer Disease »
Alzheimer disease (Alzheimer’s disease, AD), the most common cause of dementia1, is an acquired cognitive and behavioral impairment of sufficient severity that markedly interferes with social and occupational functioning.
Explore 80+ Centers
- Allergy
- Allergy Medications
- Anaphylaxis
- Antidepressants
- Anxiety
- Arthritis
- Asthma
- Baby's Health
- Back, Neck, Head Injury
- Bioterrorism, Warfare
- Blood, Lymphatic System
- Bone, Joint, Muscle
- Brain, Nervous System
- Breathing Difficulties
- Burns
- Camping
- Cancer, Tumors
- Children's Health
- Cholesterol
- Cold and Flu
- CPR, Choking
- Cuts, Scrapes, Bruises
- Dementia
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Diabetic Coma, Insulin Shock
- Digestive System
- Dislocations
- Drowning
- Drug Overdose
- Ear, Nose, Throat
- Emotional Wellness
- Endocrine System
- Environmental Injuries
- Erectile Dysfunction
- Exercise, Nutrition
- Eye, Vision
- Fainting
- Fever
- First Aid, Emergency
- First Aid Kits
- Food Poisoning
- Foreign Bodies
- Fractures, Broken Bones
- Glaucoma
- Headache
- Health, Medical
- Heartburn, GERD, Reflux
- Heart, Blood Vessels
- Heart Attack
- Hepatitis
- Immune System
- Incontinence
- Infections
- Kidneys, Urinary System
- Lung, Airway
- Medications
- Men's Health
- Mental Health, Behavior
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Nosebleeds
- Osteoporosis
- Outdoor Living
- Overexposure
- Poisoning
- Procedures
- Psoriasis
- Public Health
- Scuba Diving, Swimming
- Seizures
- Senior Health
- Shock
- Skin, Hair, Nails
- Sleep Disorders
- Social, Family Health
- Sports Injury
- Sprains, Strains
- Statins
- STDs
- Substance Abuse
- Teen Health
- Teeth, Mouth, Oral Health
- Weight Management
- Wilderness Emergencies
- Women's Health
- Wounds
