Alzheimer's and Dementia

Worldwide, 55 million people are living with Alzheimer's and other dementias.

Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative brain disease and the most common cause of dementia. Dementia is not a specific disease. It's an overall term that describes a group of symptoms.

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Have Questions about Alzheimer's?

Take our free, online course Understanding Alzheimer's and Dementia to learn about stages, risk factors, treatments and more.

Take the Course

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Know the 10 Signs

Your memory often changes as you grow older. But memory loss that disrupts daily life is not a typical part of aging.

Learn the Signs

Brain Tour

See how the brain works and how Alzheimer's disease affects it.

Take the Tour

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Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)

Approximately 12-18% of people age 60 or older are living with MCI. People with MCI may go on to develop dementia, while others will not.

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Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease & Dementia

Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia, a general term for memory loss and other cognitive abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life.

Facts and Figures

Our annual report reveals the burden of Alzheimer’s and dementia on individuals, caregivers, government and the nation’s health care system.

Get the Facts

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Causes and Risk Factors for Alzheimer's Disease

Causes of Alzheimer’s and other dementias can include several risk factors – such as genetics, behaviors and habits.

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What Is Dementia?

Dementia is a general term for loss of memory and other thinking abilities severe enough to interfere with daily life. Learn early signs, symptoms and more.

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What is Alzheimer’s Disease?

Alzheimer's is a type of dementia that affects memory, thinking and behavior. Symptoms eventually grow severe enough to interfere with daily tasks.

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What To Expect

Understand what to expect when visiting a doctor about symptoms, how Alzheimer’s disease progresses, and what resources are available.

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How is Alzheimer's Disease Diagnosed?

Learn what to expect when visiting a doctor for symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.

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Stages of Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's disease typically progresses slowly in three general stages.

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Why Get Checked?

Read about the benefits of receiving an early diagnosis.

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Treatments for Alzheimer's

There's no cure for Alzheimer’s, but there are treatments that may change disease progression, and drug and non-drug options that may help treat symptoms.

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Research & Progress

This is a time of unprecedented promise in the race to end Alzheimer’s. As the world's largest nonprofit funder of Alzheimer's research, the Alzheimer’s Association is committed to accelerating the discovery of methods of treatment, prevention and, ultimately, a cure.