Deaths: leading causes for Monetary costs of dementia in the United States. Tejada-Vera B. NCHS data brief, no James BD. Contribution of Alzheimer disease to mortality in the United States. Top of Page. What's this? Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website.
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If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of dementia, it is best to visit a doctor so the cause can be determined. The brain has billion nerve cells neurons.
Each nerve cell connects with many others to form communication networks. Groups of nerve cells have special jobs. Some are involved in thinking, learning and remembering. Others help us see, hear and smell. To do their work, brain cells operate like tiny factories. They receive supplies, generate energy, construct equipment and get rid of waste.
Cells also process and store information and communicate with other cells. Keeping everything running requires coordination as well as large amounts of fuel and oxygen. Scientists believe Alzheimer's disease prevents parts of a cell's factory from running well. They are not sure where the trouble starts. But just like a real factory, backups and breakdowns in one system cause problems in other areas.
As damage spreads, cells lose their ability to do their jobs and, eventually die, causing irreversible changes in the brain. It affects multiple brain functions. The first sign of Alzheimer's disease is usually minor memory problems. For example, this could be forgetting about recent conversations or events, and forgetting the names of places and objects.
As the condition develops, memory problems become more severe and further symptoms can develop, such as:. Read more about the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. The risk of Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia increases with age, affecting an estimated 1 in 14 people over the age of 65 and 1 in every 6 people over the age of But around 1 in every 20 people with Alzheimer's disease are under the age of This is called early- or young-onset Alzheimer's disease.
As the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease progress slowly, it can be difficult to recognise that there's a problem. Many people feel that memory problems are simply a part of getting older. Also, the disease process itself may but not always prevent people recognising changes in their memory.
But Alzheimer's disease is not a "normal" part of the ageing process. An accurate and timely diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease can give you the best chance to prepare and plan for the future, as well as receive any treatment or support that may help. If you're worried about your memory or think you may have dementia, it's a good idea to see a GP. If possible, someone who knows you well should be with you as they can help describe any changes or problems they have noticed. No single test can diagnose Alzheimer disease.
A healthcare provider will first rule out other conditions. But the only way to confirm a diagnosis of Alzheimer disease is to examine the brain after death. An autopsy can show changes in the brain that mark the disease. The provider may also do:.
Complete health history. This may include questions about overall health and past health problems. The provider will see how well the person can do daily tasks. The provider may ask family members about any changes in behavior or personality. Mental status test. This may include tests of memory, problem-solving, attention, counting, and language. Neuropsychological testing may also be done.
This will likely be a series of tests that assess your brain function. It often involves answering questions and doing certain tasks. Other lab tests. These may include blood and urine tests to find possible causes of the problem. Brain imaging tests. Medicines are often used to help people maintain mental function and carry out daily activities.
They include:. At this time, Alzheimer disease has no cure. There is no way of slowing down the progression of this disease.
And no treatment is available to reverse the changes that the disease brings on. But new research findings give reason for hope. Several medicines are being studied in clinical trials to see if they can slow the progress of the disease or improve memory for a period of time.
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