Alzheimer’s disease is a type of brain disease, just as coronary artery disease is a type of heart disease. It is caused by damage to nerve cells (neurons) in the brain. Individuals with mild symptoms often may continue to work, drive and participate in their favorite activities, with occasional help from family members and friends. However, Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disease, meaning it gets worse with time. How quickly it progresses and what abilities are affected vary from person to person. Medications can temporarily help neurons in the brain to communicate with each other and in that way help symptoms for varying lengths of time, but do not cure Alzheimer's. As time passes, more neurons are damaged and more areas of the brain are affected. Increased help from family members, friends and professional caregivers is needed to carry out activities of daily living,A1 such as dressing and bathing, and to keep the individual safe. People may develop changes in mood, behavior or personality as a result of the thinking and memory challenges they are experiencing. One area of special concern is preventing falls, which can cause head injury, fractures and hospitalization. Preventing wandering is another area of special concern. Wandering refers to individuals walking away from a particular location and being unable to retrace their steps. Individuals become lost, putting them at risk of significant injury and death.9 Eventually, the neuronal damage of Alzheimer’s disease extends to parts of the brain that enable basic bodily functions such as walking and swallowing. Individuals Alzheimer’s Disease or Dementia? Many people wonder what the difference is between Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Dementia is an overall term for a particular group of symptoms. The characteristic symptoms of dementia are difficulties with memory, language, problem-solving and other thinking skills. Dementia has several causes (see Table 1, page 6). These causes reflect specific changes in the brain. Alzheimer’s disease is one cause of dementia. The brain changes of Alzheimer’s disease include the accumulation of the abnormal proteins beta-amyloid and phosphorylated tau, as well as the degeneration of nerve cells. The brain changes of Alzheimer’s disease are the most common contributor to dementia. In this report, Alzheimer’s dementia refers to dementia that is caused by, or believed to be caused by, the brain changes of Alzheimer’s disease. It is used interchangeably with dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease. The neurons damaged first are those in parts of the brain responsible for memory, language and thinking. As a result, the first symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease tend to be memory, language and thinking problems. Although these symptoms are new to the individual affected, the brain changes that cause them are thought to begin 20 years or more before symptoms start.1-8 become bed-bound and require around-the-clock care. Ultimately, Alzheimer’s disease is fatal. Studies indicate that people age 65 and older survive an average of four to eight years after a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s dementia, yet some live as long as 20 years.10-18 6 Alzheimer’s Association. 2022 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures. Alzheimers Dement 2022;18. Common Causes of Dementia and Associated Characteristics* Cause Characteristics table 1 Alzheimer’s disease The hallmark pathologies of Alzheimer’s disease are the accumulation of the protein beta-amyloid (plaques) outside neurons and twisted strands of the protein tau (tangles) inside neurons in the brain. These changes are accompanied by the death of neurons and damage to brain tissue. Alzheimer's is a slowly progressive brain disease that begins many years before symptoms emerge. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for an estimated 60% to 80% of cases. Recent large autopsy studies show that more than half of individuals with Alzheimer's dementia have Alzheimer's disease brain changes (pathology) as well as the brain changes of one or more other causes of dementia, such as cerebrovascular disease or Lewy body disease.21-22 This is called mixed pathologies, and if recognized during life is called mixed dementia. Symptoms Difficulty remembering recent conversations, names or events is often an early symptom; apathy and depression are also often early symptoms. Later symptoms include impaired communication, disorientation, confusion, poor judgment, behavioral changes and, ultimately, difficulty speaking, swallowing and