Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, irreversible brain disorder with no known cause or cure. It attacks and slowly steals the minds of its victims. Symptoms of the disease include memory loss, confusion, impaired judgment, personality changes, disorientation, and loss of language skills. Always fatal, Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of irreversible dementia.

More than 4.5 million Americans are believed to have Alzheimer’s disease and by 2050, the number could increase to 13.2 million. Approximately 65,800 victims die and 350,000 new cases of Alzheimer's disease are diagnosed each year. America is not alone in dealing with this terrible affliction. In every nation where life expectancy has increased, so has the incidence of Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease is becoming tragically common. It is estimated that there are currently 26 million people worldwide with Alzheimer’s disease. This figure is projected to grow to more than 106 million people by 2050.

Alzheimer's Disease Research (ADR), a program of the American Health Assistance Foundation, was established in 1985 to fund research on and educate the public about Alzheimer's disease. Since the program's inception, ADR has awarded more than $55 million to support promising research in fields ranging from molecular biology to epidemiology. AHAF is honored to have played a role in Dr. Stanley Prusiner's Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1997 for his landmark research on prions. More than $1.2 million in research grants has been awarded to Dr. Prusiner through its ADR program to develop his prion theory as a model for Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease has a long history, although the disease wasn't given a name until the collection of symptoms was first described during the early part of the 20th century. Hopefully, during the early part of the 21st century we will help find the cure.

Alzheimer’s Disease Research Grants Two $1 Million Centennial Awards

• Read more about this exciting new research!

Medical News

• Read Alzheimer's disease news summaries.

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Medical Illustrations

• View an illustration of an Anatomy of the Brain.

• View an illustration of a Brain with Alzheimer's Disease.

• View an illustration of Amyloid Plaques and Neurofibrillary Tangles.

• View an illustration of How the Brain and Nerve Cells Change During Alzheimer's Disease.

   

Videos

• View a video showing How The Brain Changes During Alzheimer's Disease.
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• What is Alzheimer's Disease (Flash)
  
  
• Alzheimer's Disease: A Message for Newly Diagnosed Patients and Their Families (Flash)

Real Life Questions

If you have questions concerning Alzheimer's disease, please fill out the Real Life Questions form.We will answer some of the questions and the responses will be posted on the science and research or caregiving Real Life Questions page every other Wednesday. Your identity will not be posted with your question.

Fact Sheets

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• Alzheimer's Disease & Dementia



• Alzheimer's Disease Treatment



• Aricept



• Clinical Trial Information



• Helpful Organizations



• Diagnosing Alzheimer's Disease



• Financial Assistance



• Heredity and Alzheimer's



• Memory Problems: Is It Alzheimer's?



• Namenda



• Risk Factors for Alzheimer's Disease



• Symptoms & Stages of Alzheimer's Disease



• The Facts On Alzheimer's Disease



• The Role of Metals in Alzheimer's Disease

Reviewed on 2/14/2008

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Disclaimer: The information provided in this section is a public service of Alzheimer's Disease Research, a program of the American Health Assistance Foundation (AHAF). It should not in any way substitute for the advice of a qualified health care professional and is not intended to constitute medical advice. Most organizations mentioned are not affiliated with AHAF. In addition, AHAF does not endorse any programs or products offered by these organizations.

Some of the information in this section of our website was obtained from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Referral Center, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the National Center for Health Statistics, the National Institute on Aging, the FDA, the National Library of Medicine and the U.S. Department of Labor (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

The 2005 MetLife Market Survey of Nursing Home & Home Care Costs and the 2005 MetLife Market Survey of Assisted Living Costs reports provided statistics on the expenses associated with Home Health Aides, nursing homes and assisting living facilities.

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