Alzheimer's Disease Overview

Alzheimer’s disease, which is the most commonly diagnosed form of dementia among older people, is a neurodegenerative disease. People who are in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease may have problems with memory loss. As the disease progresses, it can severely impact their ability to communicate and perform basic tasks.^{1 , 2}

In people with Alzheimer’s disease, abnormal deposits of amyloid and tau proteins disrupt the connections between neurons in the brain.^{3 , 4} Several factors appear to increase a person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Age is the biggest risk factor, with most cases appearing in people who are 65 years or older. Other factors may include a family history of Alzheimer’s disease and certain lifestyle factors, such as smoking and a lack of physical activity.⁵

Because age is a significant risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease and women typically live longer than men, women have a higher lifetime risk of developing this condition. However, age alone does not explain why approximately two-thirds of the people aged 65 years and older who are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease in the United States are women.^{6 , 7} Menopause may play a role in this increased risk, as it alters the levels of certain hormones and can increase inflammation in the brain.⁸ In addition, some studies have shown that hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (e.g., pre-eclampsia) can increase the risk of stroke among older women, which is in turn linked to a higher risk of vascular dementia as well as Alzheimer’s disease.^{7 , 9} Depression and insomnia are also more common in women than in men, and studies have found associations between both of these conditions and the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.⁷ More research is needed to comprehensively define the complex combination of factors that account for the difference in the risks for Alzheimer’s disease between men and women.

Sex differences have implications when screening for Alzheimer’s disease as well. Verbal memory tests are used to diagnose mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease, and women perform better on these types of tests than men regardless of age. Research suggests that this advantage in verbal memory tests may delay the diagnosis of cognitive impairment in women. This may lead to women having a greater burden of disease when they do eventually receive a diagnosis, and it makes early intervention difficult.^{6 , 10}

While there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, some treatments can help manage the symptoms for certain people.¹

In 2012, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) launched the National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease. This initiative aims to develop effective methods for preventing and treating this disease and to enhance support for people with Alzheimer’s disease and their families. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) provides detailed information on each of the milestones for this landmark project on their website.