Solving The Alzheimer's Puzzle

What we know, what we don’t know, and where the promise lies.

- Katherine Hobson

MANY PEOPLE THINK Alzheimer’s equals dementia equals senility—and that all three are just another way of saying “She’s getting old.” In fact, senility is an outdated word for dementia, which is a catch-all term referring to a cognitive decline that involves life-disrupting changes to thinking, memory, reasoning, and, in many cases, personality. And Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. It can be devastating for patients and their families, but it’s important to realize that dementia is not a normal part of aging. Other key facts to keep in mind:

While no one knows exactly what causes Alzheimer’s, we’re getting better at identifying what contributes to it.