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Medications and Alzheimer’s Disease

Learning about AD

What is Alzheimer’s disease?

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia.  Dementia is a group of symptoms that affect areas of the brain important for memory, daily functioning, mood and behavior. 

Other types of dementia include Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, stroke, head injury, poor nutrition, or depression.

Alzheimer’s disease was first discovered in 1906 by Alois Alzheimer who described changes in the brain of a woman who died of what was thought to be an unusual mental illness, now considered characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease.

People living with Alzheimer’s disease have trouble with thinking, communicating, and learning that interferes with their normal social, working, and/or family life.  It also causes changes in a person’s mood and personality, as well as ability to do usual daily functions and tasks.

Alzheimer’s disease is not a normal part of aging.

Alzheimer’s disease slowly worsens over time causing your loved one to need increasing care. Every patient’s disease progresses differently, and a patient can live over a range of 3 to 20 years from the time the diagnosis is made.

Alzheimer’s disease affects over 4 million people in the United States, usually people age 65 years or older. 

An estimated 1 out of 10 people over age 65, and one-half of people over age 85 years old have Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s disease is also one of the most costly diseases in that $100 billion are spent annually in the U.S. in its related costs.  These include hospitalizations and nursing home care including medications for the patient, but also time and dollars spent by caregivers, such as loss of income, or daily caregiving costs.

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