Overview

Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder that impacts memory and thinking skills, and eventually, the ability to do simple tasks. Most people with Alzheimer’s start showing signs when they are older. Experts believe that more than 6 million Americans, most of them age 65 or older, may have this disease.

Scientists don’t know exactly what causes the disease in most people. It is likely a combination of changes in the brain as you get older, along with genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors.

Most of the time, Alzheimer’s does not have a single genetic cause. Instead, it is likely because of multiple genes along with a person’s lifestyle and environmental factors. Changes in genes, called genetic variations, can make a person more or less likely to get the disease.

The risk of getting Alzheimer’s from genetics is believed to be around 60% to 80%. This means that genetics plays a large role in the development of the disease, but other factors also contribute.

Alzheimer's disease is becoming more common as people are living longer than before. It usually affects people older than 65. However, a small number of people get “early-onset” Alzheimer’s, which can start in a person’s 30s and 40s.

The life expectancy for Alzheimer's disease is around eight to 10 years. It is less if a person is diagnosed 80s or 90s. Some people live longer with the disease, sometimes up to 15 or 20 years.

Hispanic/Latino individuals have a higher risk of Alzheimer's disease and other memory problems. They are also more likely to show symptoms earlier, but be diagnosed later, and live longer with the disease. However, Hispanic/Latino individuals are not as included in research as other groups are. This makes it harder for scientists to find better ways to diagnose and treat the disease, especially in the Hispanic/Latino community.

There's currently no cure for Alzheimer's disease. But there is medicine available that can help temporarily slow the disease.