Alzheimer's and dementia: What's the difference? - Mayo Clinic
Mar 13, 2024 · Mixed dementia. While dementia is a general term, Alzheimer's disease is a specific brain disease. It is marked by symptoms of dementia that gradually get worse over time. Alzheimer's disease first affects the part of the brain associated with learning, so early symptoms often include changes in memory, thinking and reasoning skills.
Alzheimer's disease - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic
Jul 10, 2024 · Alzheimer's disease is a brain disorder that gets worse over time. It's characterized by changes in the brain that lead to deposits of certain proteins. Alzheimer's disease causes the brain to shrink and brain cells to eventually die. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia — a gradual decline in memory, thinking, behavior ...
Dementia - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic
Infections and immune disorders. Dementia-like symptoms can result from a fever or other side effects of the body's attempt to fight off an infection. Multiple sclerosis and other conditions caused by the body's immune system attacking nerve cells also can cause dementia. Metabolic or endocrine problems.
Alzheimer's disease - Diagnosis and treatment - Mayo Clinic
Jul 10, 2024 · An important part of diagnosing Alzheimer's disease includes being able to explain your symptoms. Input from a close family member or friend about your symptoms and their impact on your daily life helps. Tests of memory and thinking skills also help diagnose Alzheimer's disease. Blood and imaging tests can rule out other potential causes of the ...
Diagnosing Alzheimer's: How Alzheimer's is diagnosed
Mar 13, 2024 · To diagnose Alzheimer's dementia, healthcare professionals conduct tests to measure memory impairment and other thinking skills. They also judge functional abilities and identify behavior changes. A series of tests can rule out other possible causes of symptoms. By Mayo Clinic Staff. Alzheimer's dementia can be diagnosed in several different ways.
Dementia - Diagnosis and treatment - Mayo Clinic
The following techniques may help reduce agitation and promote relaxation in people with dementia. Music therapy, which involves listening to soothing music. Light exercise. Watching videos of family members. Pet therapy, which can include visits from dogs or other animals to promote improved mood and behavior.
Alzheimer's stages: How the disease progresses - Mayo Clinic
Jun 7, 2023 · Mild dementia due to Alzheimer's disease. Moderate dementia due to Alzheimer's disease. Severe dementia due to Alzheimer's disease. Dementia is a term used to describe a group of symptoms that affect intellectual and social abilities enough to interfere with daily function. The five Alzheimer's stages can help you understand what might happen.
Alzheimer's treatments: What's on the horizon? - Mayo Clinic
Jul 10, 2024 · These Alzheimer's treatments boost the performance of chemicals in the brain that carry information from one brain cell to another. They include cholinesterase inhibitors and the medicine memantine (Namenda). However, these treatments don't stop the underlying decline and death of brain cells. As more cells die, Alzheimer's disease continues to ...
Young-onset Alzheimer's: When symptoms begin before age 65
Apr 10, 2024 · Young-onset Alzheimer's disease is an uncommon form of dementia that affects people younger than age 65. The condition also is called early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Most people with Alzheimer's are age 65 and older. About 1 in 9 people age 65 and older in the United States has Alzheimer's disease. About 110 of every 100,000 adults between ...
Alzheimer's prevention: Does it exist? - Mayo Clinic
Sep 25, 2024 · Not yet. But there's strong evidence that healthy lifestyle habits — such as diet, exercise and not smoking — may play a role in reducing your risk of Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia. However, more research is needed before any of these lifestyle factors can be considered a proven strategy to prevent Alzheimer's disease.