Diagnosis and causes & Care and support
Lesson 2 · 5 min
Based on MedlinePlus en español — Alzheimer's Disease. Original educational summary, read by a medical doctor and confirmed reliable, pending formal approval. Not medical advice.
Learning objectives
- Explain diagnosis and causes.
- Explain care and support.
Diagnosis and causes
There is no single test for Alzheimer's. Doctors use medical history, mental status tests, neurological examination, blood tests, and brain imaging to rule out other causes of memory problems, some of which are treatable. Age is the greatest known risk factor; family history and certain genes also play a role. Researchers believe the disease develops from a combination of genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors over many years.
Care and support
No treatment currently stops Alzheimer's, but some medicines can temporarily lessen symptoms or slow their worsening, and newer therapies target amyloid in early disease. Managing other conditions, staying physically and socially active, and keeping a structured routine help maintain quality of life. The disease places heavy demands on caregivers, who benefit from education, respite, and support groups. Planning legal, financial, and care decisions early is recommended.
Key concepts
- A progressive disease of the brain
- Alzheimer's disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder and the most common cause of dementia in older adults.
- More than normal aging
- Occasionally forgetting a name and remembering it later is part of normal aging.
- Diagnosis and causes
- There is no single test for Alzheimer's.
- Care and support
- No treatment currently stops Alzheimer's, but some medicines can temporarily lessen symptoms or slow their worsening, and newer therapies target amyloid in early disease.