About Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s causes deterioration of connections among neurons in the brain. Alzheimer’s is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and, eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia among older adults. Dementia is the loss of cognitive functioning (thinking, remembering, and reasoning) and behavioral abilities to such an extent that it interferes with a person’s daily life and activities.
Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures
In the U.S., there are approximately 6 million people living with Alzheimer’s, with approximately 910,000 new cases each year 1
Alzheimer’s is the 6th leading cause of death among U.S. adults 2
More than 16 million Americans, usually family and friends, provide unpaid care for someone with Alzheimer’s or other dementias 3
In 2019, the estimated total payments for all individuals with Alzheimer’s or other dementias was estimated at $290 billion. Medicaid and Medicare are expected to cover 67% of these costs 1
Predementia
The first symptoms of Alzheimer’s appear and are frequently mistaken for aging or stress.
Mild Alzheimer’s disease
Increasing impairment of learning and memory eventually leads to a definitive diagnosis. Problems can include wandering and getting lost, trouble handling money and paying bills, repeating questions, taking longer to complete normal daily tasks, and personality and behaviour changes.
Moderate Alzheimer’s disease
In moderate Alzheimer’s, progressive deterioration eventually hinders independence, with subjects being unable to perform most common activities of daily living. In this stage, damage occurs in areas of the brain that control language, reasoning, sensory processing, and conscious thought. Memory loss and confusion grow worse, and people begin to have problems recognizing family and friends. They may be unable to learn new things, carry out multi-step tasks, such as getting dressed, or cope with new situations.
Severe Alzheimer’s disease
During the final stages of Alzheimer’s, the patient is completely dependent upon caregivers. Language is reduced to simple phrases or even single words, eventually leading to complete loss of speech. People with Alzheimer’s will ultimately not be able to perform even the simplest tasks independently; muscle mass and mobility deteriorates to the point where they are bedridden and unable to feed themselves.
Current Treatments and Unmet Needs
Currently there are no pharmacologic treatments available for Alzheimer’s that help to regain cognitive function.
In the U.S., the drugs that are approved for the treatment of Alzheimer’s may temporarily improve symptoms either by increasing the amount of chemicals called neurotransmitters in the brain or by blocking certain receptors in the brain from excess stimulation that can damage nerve cells. The effectiveness of these drugs varies from person to person and is limited in how long they work for.
What are the stages of Alzheimer’s Disease?
The progress of Alzheimer’s can be divided into four stages:
Predementia
The first symptoms of Alzheimer’s appear and are frequently mistaken for aging or stress.
Moderate Alzheimer’s disease
In moderate Alzheimer’s, progressive deterioration eventually hinders independence, with subjects being unable to perform most common activities of daily living. In this stage, damage occurs in areas of the brain that control language, reasoning, sensory processing, and conscious thought. Memory loss and confusion grow worse, and people begin to have problems recognizing family and friends. They may be unable to learn new things, carry out multi-step tasks, such as getting dressed, or cope with new situations.
Mild Alzheimer’s disease
Increasing impairment of learning and memory eventually leads to a definitive diagnosis. Problems can include wandering and getting lost, trouble handling money and paying bills, repeating questions, taking longer to complete normal daily tasks, and personality and behaviour changes.
Severe Alzheimer’s disease
During the final stages of Alzheimer’s, the patient is completely dependent upon caregivers. Language is reduced to simple phrases or even single words, eventually leading to complete loss of speech. People with Alzheimer’s will ultimately not be able to perform even the simplest tasks independently; muscle mass and mobility deteriorates to the point where they are bedridden and unable to feed themselves.
- Alzheimer’s Association. (2019). 2019 Alzheimer’s disease facts and figures. Alzheimer’s & Dementia 15, 321–387.
- Xu, J., Kochanek, K.D., Murphy, S.L., and Tejada-Vera, B. (2010). Deaths: Final Data for 2007. National Vital Statistics Reports 58, 135.
- Riffin, C., Van Ness, P.H., Wolff, J.L., and Fried, T. (2017). Family and Other Unpaid Caregivers and Older Adults with and without Dementia and Disability. J Am Geriatr Soc 65, 1821–1828.
