Families have many things in common, including their genes, environment, and lifestyle. Together, these things may offer clues to diseases, like late- and early-onset Alzheimer’s, that can run in a family. There is no test yet to predict if someone will get late-onset Alzheimer’s, in which symptoms become apparent in a person’s mid-60s. If someone is worried about changes in his or her memory or other problems with thinking, he or she […]
Alzheimer's and Dementia
How Is Alzheimer’s Disease Diagnosed?
Doctors use several methods and tools to help determine if a person with thinking or memory problems has Alzheimer’s disease. To diagnose Alzheimer’s, doctors may: • Ask the person experiencing symptoms, as well as a family member or friend, questions about overall health, use of prescription and over-the-counter medicines, diet, past medical problems, ability to carry out daily activities, and changes in behavior and personality. • Conduct […]
Take Care of Your Senses: The Science Behind Sensory Loss and Dementia Risk
The sight of grandchildren’s faces, the smell of home cooking, the sound of a friend’s voice: We process so much of life through our eyes, ears, and nose. While many older adults experience some decline in their senses as they age, there is growing scientific evidence that these changes may also be related to dementia and overall brain health. About one third of older adults […]
Vascular Dementia: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments
Vascular dementia refers to changes to memory, thinking, and behavior resulting from conditions that affect the blood vessels in the brain. Cognition and brain function can be significantly affected by the size, location, and number of vascular changes. Symptoms of vascular dementia can begin gradually or can occur suddenly, and then progress over time, with possible short periods of improvement. Vascular dementia can occur alone or be a part of […]
What Causes Memory Loss? Assessing Symptoms and Seeking Help
Various conditions can cause short-term or long-term memory loss and affect thinking or behavior. It can be difficult to know what to do if you’ve noticed changes in yourself or a family member or friend — particularly changes related to memory loss, thinking or behavior. It may just be normal forgetfulness, or it may be something more serious. It’s natural […]
How Is Alzheimer’s Disease Treated?
Alzheimer’s disease is complex, and it is therefore unlikely that any one drug or other intervention will ever successfully treat it in all people living with the disease. Still, in recent years, scientists have made tremendous progress in better understanding Alzheimer’s and in developing and testing new treatments, including several medications that are in late-stage clinical trials. Several prescription drugs are already approved by the U.S. Food and […]