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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffAlzheimer's disease causes brain changes that gradually get worse. It's the most common cause of dementia — a group of brain disorders that cause progressive loss of intellectual and social skills, severe enough to interfere with day-to-day life. In Alzheimer's disease, brain cells degenerate and die, causing a steady decline in memory and mental function.
Current Alzheimer's disease medications and management strategies can temporarily improve symptoms, maximize function and maintain independence. It's also important to seek social services and tap into your support network to make life better. Research efforts aim to discover treatments that prevent Alzheimer's or slow its progression.
- Middleton LE, et al. Promising strategies for prevention of dementia. Archives of Neurology. 2009;66:1210.
- Preventing Alzheimer's disease and cognitive decline. National Institutes of Health State-of-the-Science Conference Statement. April 26-28, 2010. http://consensus.nih.gov/2010/docs/alz/ALZ_Final_Statement.pdf. Accessed Oct. 28, 2010.
- Rusanen M, et al. Heavy smoking in midlife and long-term risk of Alzheimer disease and vascular dementia. Archives of Internal Medicine. In press. Accessed Oct. 28, 2010.
- Alternative treatments. Alzheimer's Association. http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_alternative_treatments.asp Accessed Nov. 5, 2010.
- Scarmeas N, et al. Physical activity, diet, and risk of Alzheimer disease. JAMA. 2009;302:627.
- Alzheimer's disease fact sheet. National Institute on Aging. http://www.nia.nih.gov/NR/rdonlyres/7DCA00DB-1362-4755-9E87-96DF669EAE20/13991/ADFactSheetFINAL2510.pdf. Accessed Oct. 29, 2010.
- Grabowski TJ. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 30, 2010.
- Press D, et al. Treatment of dementia. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 30, 2010.
- Shadlen M-F, et al. Risk factors for dementia. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 30, 2010.
- What is Alzheimer's? Alzheimer's Association. http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_what_is_alzheimers.asp. Accessed Nov. 4, 2010.
- Prevention. Alzheimer's Association. http://www.alz.org/research/science/alzheimers_prevention_and_risk.asp. Accessed Oct. 31, 2010.
- Essentials of a diagnostic workup. Alzheimer's Association. http://www.alz.org/professionals_and_researchers_14902.asp. Accessed Oct. 31, 2010.
- Basics of Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's Association. http://www.alz.org/national/documents/brochure_basicsofalz_low.pdf. Accessed October 31, 2010.
- Late stage care. Alzheimer's Association. http://www.alz.org/national/documents/brochure_latestage.pdf. Accessed Nov. 2, 2010.
- Strobel, G. Noisy response greets revised diagnostic criteria for AD. Alzheimer Research Forum. http://www.alzforum.org/new/detail.asp?id=2522. Accessed Nov. 3, 2010.
- Neurological tests and procedures. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/misc/diagnostic_tests.htm. Accessed Nov. 3, 2010.
- Caring for a person with Alzheimer's disease. National Institute on Aging. http://www.nia.nih.gov/NR/rdonlyres/E0F45395-A473-4B26-8F7E-86F4314405CE/0/CaringGuide.pdf. Accessed Nov. 4, 2010.
- Medical foods. Alzheimer's Association. http://www.alz.org/national/documents/statements_medicalfoods.pdf. Accessed Nov. 19, 2010.
- Is it really approved? Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/downloads/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/UCM143301.pdf. Accessed Nov. 19, 2010.
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