What is Alzheimer’s

·Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks.

·The first recorded case of Alzheimer’s disease was in 1906, when German psychiatrist and neurologist Alois Alzheimer observed changes in the brain of a patient who had died of an unknown mental illness. Alzheimer’s disease was not recognized as a distinct disorder until the early 20th century.

·In the United States, the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease has been increasing. In 2010, there were an estimated 5.3 million Americans living with the disease. By 2050, this number is expected to increase to 11-16 million (National Institute on Aging, 2021).

There is no single cause of Alzheimer’s disease, but a combination of genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors is thought to play a role