Frequently Asked Questions About Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is currently ranked as the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Interested in other facts about Alzheimer’s disease? Here’s a sneak peek of common questions and answers from NIA’s FAQs about Alzheimer’s disease: What are the causes of Alzheimer's disease? Researchers do not yet fully understand what causes Alzheimer's disease in most people. However, they continue to study a complex series of age-related brain changes, along with genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors to better understand the disease. What is the difference between Alzheimer’s disease and dementia? Alzheimer's disease is a type of dementia. Dementia is a loss of thinking, remembering, and reasoning skills that interferes with a person's daily life and activities. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia among older people. Other types of dementia include Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, and vascular dementia. If a family member has Alzheimer’s disease, will I have it too? Just because a family member has Alzheimer's disease does not mean that you will get it, too. Genetic factors can make you more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, but does not guarantee you will have it. Is there a cure for Alzheimer's disease? Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease. Several drugs have been approved to treat the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, and certain medicines and other approaches can help control behavioral symptoms. Scientists continue to develop and test possible new treatments. See more answers to your questions about Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

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