What is Alzheimer's disease?
{{Infobox medical condition (new) |name = Alzheimer's disease |image = Brain-ALZH.png |caption = Drawing comparing a normal aged brain (left) and the brain of a person with Alzheimer's (right). Characteristics that separate the two are pointed out. |pronounce = ˈaltshʌɪməz |field = [[Neurology]] |synonyms = Alzheimer disease, Alzheimer's |symptoms = Difficulty in remembering recent events, [[primary progressive aphasia|problems with language]], [[Orientation (mental)|disorientation]], [[mood swing]]s |complications = |onset = Over 65 years old |duration = Long term |causes = Poorly understood |risks = [[Genetics]], [[head injury|head injuries]], [[major depressive disorder|depression]], [[hypertension]]<ref name=Lancet2011>{{cite journal |vauthors=Ballard C, Gauthier S, Corbett A, Brayne C, Aarsland D, Jones E |title=Alzheimer's disease |journal=Lancet |volume=377 |issue=9770 |pages=1019–31 |date=March 2011 |pmid=21371747 |doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(10)61349-9 |s2cid=20893019}}</ref> |diagnosis = Based on symptoms and [[cognitive test]]ing after ruling out other possible causes |differential = Normal aging |prevention = |treatment = |medication = [[Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor]]s, [[NMDA receptor antagonist]]s (small benefit)<ref name=Pres2012>{{cite journal |author=Commission de la transparence |title=Drugs for Alzheimer's disease: best avoided. No therapeutic advantage |journal=Prescrire International |volume=21 |issue=128 |pages=150 |date=June 2012 |pmid=22822592 |trans-title=Drugs for Alzheimer's disease: best avoided. No therapeutic advantage}}</ref> |prognosis = Life expectancy 3–9 years |frequency = 29.8 million (2015) |deaths = For all [[dementia]]s 1.9 million (2015) }} '''Alzheimer's Disease (AD)''' is a [[brain]] disease that slowly destroys brain cells. As of now, there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease. With time, the different symptoms of the disease become more ma