Alzheimer's

What is Alzheimer's?

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia. This incurable brain disease was named after the German physician Alois Alzheimer, who identified it in 1907. The disease, marked by a progressive degeneration of brain tissue, primarily affects people over the age of 65. In such cases it is known as late-onset Alzheimer’s disease. It has also been reported among people in their 50s, 40s and – rarely – 30s (early onset). Nearly all people with Down syndrome will develop this disease if they live into their 40s. Eventually, people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease lose the ability to think, reason and co-ordinate movement, and become incapacitated over the course of five to eight years. From the age of 60 one’s risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia doubles every five years.