Alzheimer's Disease Information Page

Definition

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.

Amyloid plaques, which are made up of fragments of a protein called beta-

amyloid peptide mixed with a collection of additional proteins, remnants of
neurons, and bits and pieces of other nerve cells.
Neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), found inside neurons, are abnormal collections
of a protein called tau. Normal tau is required for healthy neurons. However, in
AD, tau clumps together. As a result, neurons fail to function normally and
eventually die.
Loss of connections between neurons responsible for memory and
learning. Neurons can't survive when they lose their connections to other
neurons. As neurons die throughout the brain, the affected regions begin to
atrophy, or shrink. By the final stage of AD, damage is widespread and brain
tissue has shrunk significantly.

Treatment

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 (Razadyne) 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.

Prognosis

In 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.

What research is being done?

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.
On May 15, 2012 the Obama Administration announced the release of the National
Alzheimer’s Plan. U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius
reaffirmed our nation’s commitment to conquering Alzheimer’s disease and related
dementias, with a specific goal of finding effective ways to prevent and treat the
disease by 2025.

Information from the National Library of Medicine’s MedlinePlus

Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's Caregivers

Clinical Trials

Throughout the U.S. and Worldwide

NINDS Clinical Trials

Patient Organizations

Alzheimer's Association
225 North Michigan Avenue.
Floor 17
Chicago
IL
Chicago, IL 60601-7633
info@alz.org
http://www.alz.org
Tel: 312-335-8700; 800-272-3900 (24-Hour Helpline); 312-335-5886 (TDD)

Alzheimer's Foundation of America

322 Eighth Avenue
7th Floor
New York
NY
New York, NY 10001
info@alzfdn.org
http://www.alzfdn.org
Tel: 866-AFA-8484 (232-8484)

Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation

57 West 57th Street
Suite 904
New York
NY
New York, NY 10019
info@alzdiscovery.org
http://www.alzdiscovery.org
Tel: 212-901-8000

Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD)

Radnor Station Building #2 Suite 320
290 King of Prussia Road
Radnor
PA
Radnor, PA 19087
info@theaftd.org
http://www.theaftd.org
Tel: 267-514-7221; 866-507-7222

BrightFocus Foundation
22512 Gateway Center Drive
Clarksburg
MD
Clarksburg, MD 20871
info@brightfocus.org
http://www.brightfocus.org/alzheimers/
Tel: 1- 800-437-2423

Caregiver Action Network (formerly National Family Caregiver Association)

1130 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Suite 500
Washington
DC
Washington, DC 20036
info@caregiveraction.org
http://caregiveraction.org
Tel: 202-454-3970

Family Caregiver Alliance/National Center on Caregiving

785 Market St.
Suite 750
San Francisco
CA
San Francisco, CA 94103
info@caregiver.org
http://www.caregiver.org
Tel: 415-434-3388; 800-445-8106

John Douglas French Alzheimer's Foundation

11620 Wilshire Blvd.
Suite 270
Los Angeles
CA
Los Angeles, CA 90025
http://www.jdfaf.org
Tel: 310-445-4650

Lewy Body Dementia Association

912 Killian Hill Road, S.W.
Lilburn
GA
Lilburn, GA 30047
lbda@lbda.org
http://www.lbda.org
Tel: 404-935-6444; 800-539-9767

National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization/Natl. Hospice Foundation

1731 King Street
Alexandria
VA
Alexandria, VA 22314
nhpco_info@nhpco.org
http://www.nhpco.org
Tel: 703-837-1500; Helpline: 800-658-8898

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

National Institutes of Health, DHHS
6001 Executive Blvd. Rm. 8184, MSC 9663
Bethesda
MD
Bethesda, MD 20892-9663
nimhinfo@nih.gov
http://www.nimh.nih.gov
Tel: 301-443-4513; 866-615-6464; 866-415-8051 (TTY)
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
55 Kenosia Avenue
Danbury
CT
Danbury, CT 06810
orphan@rarediseases.org
http://rarediseases.org
Tel: 203-744-0100; Voice Mail: 800-999-NORD (6673)

National Respite Network and Resource Center

800 Eastowne Drive
Suite 105
Chapel Hill
NC
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
http://www.archrespite.org
Tel: 919-490-5577 (x222)

Prize4Life
P.O. Box 5755
Berkeley
CA
Berkeley, CA 94705
contact@prize4life.org
http://www.prize4life.org
Tel: 617-545-4882

Well Spouse Association

63 West Main Street
Suite H
Freehold
NJ
Freehold, NJ 07728
info@wellspouse.org
http://www.wellspouse.org
Tel: 800-838-0879; 732-577-8899
See all related organizations

Publications
Myoclonus Fact Sheet
Myoclonus fact sheet compiled by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and
Stroke (NINDS).

Multi-Infarct Dementia Information Page

Multi-infarct dementia information sheet compiled by the National Institute of
Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).

Focus on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia

Dementia: Hope Through Research

Information booklet about Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, and other types of
dementia compiled by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
(NINDS).

Dementia With Lewy Bodies Information Page

Dementia With Lewy Bodies information sheet compiled by the National Institute of
Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).

NINDS Dementia Information Page

Dementia information page compiled by the National Institute of Neurological
Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).

Demencias: Esperanza en la Investigación

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Fact Sheet

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) fact sheet compiled by the National Institute of
Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).

Patient Organizations

Alzheimer's Association
225 North Michigan Avenue.
Floor 17
Chicago
IL
Chicago, IL 60601-7633
info@alz.org
http://www.alz.org
Tel: 312-335-8700; 800-272-3900 (24-Hour Helpline); 312-335-5886 (TDD)
Alzheimer's Foundation of America
322 Eighth Avenue
7th Floor
New York
NY
New York, NY 10001
info@alzfdn.org
http://www.alzfdn.org
Tel: 866-AFA-8484 (232-8484)

Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation

57 West 57th Street
Suite 904
New York
NY
New York, NY 10019
info@alzdiscovery.org
http://www.alzdiscovery.org
Tel: 212-901-8000

Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD)

Radnor Station Building #2 Suite 320
290 King of Prussia Road
Radnor
PA
Radnor, PA 19087
info@theaftd.org
http://www.theaftd.org
Tel: 267-514-7221; 866-507-7222

BrightFocus Foundation
22512 Gateway Center Drive
Clarksburg
MD
Clarksburg, MD 20871
info@brightfocus.org
http://www.brightfocus.org/alzheimers/
Tel: 1- 800-437-2423

Caregiver Action Network (formerly National Family Caregiver Association)

1130 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Suite 500
Washington
DC
Washington, DC 20036
info@caregiveraction.org
http://caregiveraction.org
Tel: 202-454-3970

Family Caregiver Alliance/National Center on Caregiving

785 Market St.
Suite 750
San Francisco
CA
San Francisco, CA 94103
info@caregiver.org
http://www.caregiver.org
Tel: 415-434-3388; 800-445-8106

John Douglas French Alzheimer's Foundation

11620 Wilshire Blvd.
Suite 270
Los Angeles
CA
Los Angeles, CA 90025
http://www.jdfaf.org
Tel: 310-445-4650

Lewy Body Dementia Association

912 Killian Hill Road, S.W.
Lilburn
GA
Lilburn, GA 30047
lbda@lbda.org
http://www.lbda.org
Tel: 404-935-6444; 800-539-9767

National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization/Natl. Hospice Foundation

1731 King Street
Alexandria
VA
Alexandria, VA 22314
nhpco_info@nhpco.org
http://www.nhpco.org
Tel: 703-837-1500; Helpline: 800-658-8898

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

National Institutes of Health, DHHS
6001 Executive Blvd. Rm. 8184, MSC 9663
Bethesda
MD
Bethesda, MD 20892-9663
nimhinfo@nih.gov
http://www.nimh.nih.gov
Tel: 301-443-4513; 866-615-6464; 866-415-8051 (TTY)

National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)

55 Kenosia Avenue
Danbury
CT
Danbury, CT 06810
orphan@rarediseases.org
http://rarediseases.org
Tel: 203-744-0100; Voice Mail: 800-999-NORD (6673)

National Respite Network and Resource Center

800 Eastowne Drive
Suite 105
Chapel Hill
NC
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
http://www.archrespite.org
Tel: 919-490-5577 (x222)

Prize4Life
P.O. Box 5755
Berkeley
CA
Berkeley, CA 94705
contact@prize4life.org
http://www.prize4life.org
Tel: 617-545-4882

Well Spouse Association

63 West Main Street
Suite H
Freehold
NJ
Freehold, NJ 07728
info@wellspouse.org
http://www.wellspouse.org
Tel: 800-838-0879; 732-577-8899
See all related organizations
Date last modified: Tue, 2018-07-10 15:05

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