Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-related, non-reversible brain disorder that develops over a period of years. Initially, people experience memory loss and confusion, which may be mistaken for the kinds of memory changes that are sometimes associated with normal aging. However, the symptoms of AD gradually lead to behavior and personality changes, a decline in cognitive abilities such as decision-making and language skills, and problems recognizing family and friends. AD ultimately leads to a severe loss of mental function. These losses are related to the worsening breakdown of the connections between certain neurons in the brain and their eventual death. AD is one of a group of disorders called dementias that are characterized by cognitive and behavioral problems. It is the most common cause of dementia among people age 65 and older.
There are three major hallmarks in the brain that are associated with the disease processes of AD.
Currently there are no medicines that can slow the progression of AD. However, four FDA-approved medications are used to treat
AD symptoms. These drugs help individuals carry out the activities of daily living by maintaining thinking, memory, or speaking
skills. They can also help with some of the behavioral and personality changes associated with AD. However, they will not
stop or reverse AD and appear to help individuals for only a few months to a few years. Donepezil (Aricept), rivastigmine
(Exelon), and galantamine (Reminyl) are prescribed to treat mild to moderate AD symptoms. Donepezil was recently approved
to treat severe AD as well. The newest AD medication is memantine (Namenda), which is prescribed to treat moderate to severe
AD symptoms.
In a very few families, people develop AD in their 30s, 40s, and 50s. This is known as "early onset" AD. These individuals
have a mutation in one of three different inherited genes that causes the disease to begin at an earlier age. More than 90
percent of AD develops in people older than 65. This form of AD is called "late-onset" AD, and its development and pattern
of damage in the brain is similar to that of early-onset AD. The course of this disease varies from person to person, as does
the rate of decline. In most people with AD, symptoms first appear after age 65.
We don't yet completely understand the causes of late-onset AD, but they probably include genetic, environmental, and lifestyle
factors. Although the risk of developing AD increases with age, AD and dementia symptoms are not a part of normal aging. There
are also some forms of dementia that aren't related to brain diseases such as AD, but are caused by systemic abnormalities
such as metabolic syndrome, in which the combination of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes causes confusion
and memory loss.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) supports basic and translational research related to AD
through grants to major medical institutions across the country. Current studies are investigating how the development of
beta amyloid plaques damages neurons, and how abnormalities in tau proteins create the characteristic neurofibrillary tangles
of AD. Other research is exploring the impact of risk factors associated with the development of AD, such as pre-existing
problems with blood flow in the blood vessels of the brain. Most importantly, the NINDS supports a number of studies that
are developing and testing new and novel therapies that can relieve the symptoms of AD and potentially lead to a cure.
Alzheimer's Disease Education
and Referral Center (ADEAR) P.O. Box 8250 Silver Spring, MD 20907-8250 adear@nia.nih.gov http://www.alzheimers.nia.nih.gov Tel: 301-495-3311 800-438-4380 Fax: 301-495-3334 |
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) National Institutes of Health, DHHS 6001 Executive Blvd. Rm. 8184, MSC 9663 Bethesda, MD 20892-9663 nimhinfo@nih.gov http://www.nimh.nih.gov Tel: 301-443-4513/866-415-8051 301-443-8431 (TTY) Fax: 301-443-4279 |
Alzheimer's Association 225 North Michigan Avenue 17th Floor Chicago, IL 60601-7633 info@alz.org http://www.alz.org Tel: 312-335-8700 1-800-272-3900 (24-hour helpline) TDD: 312-335-5886 Fax: 866.699.1246 |
Alzheimer's Foundation of America 322 Eighth Avenue 7th Floor New York, NY 10001 info@alzfdn.org http://www.alzfdn.org Tel: 866-AFA-8484 (232-8484) Fax: 646-638-1546 |
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) P.O. Box 1968 (55 Kenosia Avenue) Danbury, CT 06813-1968 orphan@rarediseases.org http://www.rarediseases.org Tel: 203-744-0100 Voice Mail 800-999-NORD (6673) Fax: 203-798-2291 |
Family Caregiver Alliance/
National Center on Caregiving 180 Montgomery Street Suite 1100 San Francisco, CA 94104 info@caregiver.org http://www.caregiver.org Tel: 415-434-3388 800-445-8106 Fax: 415-434-3508 |
Association for Frontotemporal Dementias (AFTD) 1616 Walnut Street Suite 1100 Philadelphia, PA 19103 info@FTD-Picks.org http://www.FTD-Picks.org Tel: 267-514-7221 866-507-7222 |
C-Mac Informational Services/Caregiver News
[For Alzheimer's-Type Dementia Caregivers] 120 Clinton Lane Cookeville, TN 38501-8946 caregiver_cmi@hotmail.com http://www.caregivernews.org |
National Family Caregivers Association 10400 Connecticut Avenue Suite 500 Kensington, MD 20895-3944 info@thefamilycaregiver.org http://www.thefamilycaregiver.org Tel: 800-896-3650 Fax: 301-942-2302 |
Well Spouse Association 63 West Main Street Suite H Freehold, NJ 07728 info@wellspouse.org http://www.wellspouse.org Tel: 800-838-0879 732-577-8899 Fax: 732-577-8644 |
National Respite Network and Resource Center 800 Eastowne Drive Suite 105 Chapel Hill, NC 27514 http://www.archrespite.org Tel: 919-490-5577 x222 Fax: 919-490-4905 |
American Health Assistance Foundation 22512 Gateway Center Drive Clarksburg, MD 20871 info@ahaf.org www.ahaf.org/alzheimers/ Tel: 301-948-3244 800-437-AHAF (2423) Fax: 301-258-9454 |
National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
/Natl. Hospice Foundation 1700 Diagonal Road Suite 625 Alexandria, VA 22314 nhpco_info@nhpco.org http://www.nhpco.org Tel: 703-837-1500 Helpline: 800-658-8898 Fax: 703-837-1233 |
Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation
(formerly, Institute for the Study of Aging) 1414 Avenue of the Americas Suite 1502 New York, NY 10019 ahorton@alzdiscovery.org http://www.alzdiscovery.org Tel: 212-935-2402 Fax: 212-935-2408 |
John Douglas French Alzheimer's Foundation 11620 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 270 Los Angeles, CA 90025 jdfaf@earthlink.net http://www.jdfaf.org Tel: 310-445-4650 800-477-2243 Fax: 310-479-0516 |
Lewy Body Dementia Association P.O. Box 451429 Atlanta, GA 31145-9429 lbda@lbda.org http://www.lewybodydementia.org Tel: Telephone: 404-935-6444 Helpline: 800-LEWYSOS (539-9767) Fax: 480-422-5434 |
Prepared by:
Office of Communications and Public Liaison
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, MD 20892
NINDS health-related material is provided for information purposes only and does not necessarily represent endorsement by or an official position of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke or any other Federal agency. Advice on the treatment or care of an individual patient should be obtained through consultation with a physician who has examined that patient or is familiar with that patient's medical history.
All NINDS-prepared information is in the public domain and may be freely copied. Credit to the NINDS or the NIH is appreciated.
Last updated February 04, 2009