Fact Sheet

til they do

ination of

n dies.

make a

robable”

live.

octors can

 90 per

e several

” AD,

n’s general

lems, and

ctivities,

m solving,

language,

sts of

uid, and

ults help

le causes

or exam

 reactions,

nd blood

an cause

 these

ated

AD is a slow disease, starting with mildmemory problems and ending withsevere brain damage. The course thedisease takes and how fast changesoccur vary from person to person. Onaverage, AD patients live from 8 to 10years after they are diagnosed, thoughsome people may live with AD for asmany as 20 years.

No treatment can stop AD. However, for some people in the early and

middle stages of the disease, the drugstacrine (Cognex, which is still available but no longer actively marketedby the manufacturer), donepezil(Aricept), rivastigmine (Exelon), orgalantamine (Razadyne, previouslyknown as Reminyl) may help preventsome symptoms from becoming worsefor a limited time. Another drug,memantine (Namenda), has beenapproved to treat moderate to severeAD, although it also is limited in itseffects. Also, some medicines mayhelp control behavioral symptoms ofAD such as sleeplessness, agitation,wandering, anxiety, and depression.Treating these symptoms often makes

New Areas of ResearchThe National Institute on Aging(NIA), part of the National Institutesof Health (NIH), is the lead Federalagency for AD research. NIA-supported scientists are testing a number ofdrugs to see if they prevent AD, slowthe disease, or help reduce symptoms.Researchers undertake clinical trials tolearn whether treatments that appearpromising in observational and animal studies actually are safe andeffective in people. Some ideas thatseem promising turn out to have littleor no benefit when they are carefullystudied in a clinical trial.

Neuroimaging. Scientists are

finding that damage to parts of thebrain involved in memory, such as thehippocampus, can sometimes be seenon brain scans before symptoms of thedisease occur. An NIA public-privatepartnership—the AD NeuroimagingInitiative (ADNI)—is a large study thatwill determine whether magneticresonance imaging (MRI) andpositron emission tomography (PET)

Fact Sheet
Fact Sheet

til they do

ination of

n dies.

make a

robable”

live.

octors can

 90 per

e several

” AD,

n’s general

lems, and

ctivities,

m solving,

language,

sts of

uid, and

ults help

le causes

or exam

 reactions,

nd blood

an cause

 these

ated

AD is a slow disease, starting with mildmemory problems and ending withsevere brain damage. The course thedisease takes and how fast changesoccur vary from person to person. Onaverage, AD patients live from 8 to 10years after they are diagnosed, thoughsome people may live with AD for asmany as 20 years.

No treatment can stop AD. However, for some people in the early and

middle stages of the disease, the drugstacrine (Cognex, which is still available but no longer actively marketedby the manufacturer), donepezil(Aricept), rivastigmine (Exelon), orgalantamine (Razadyne, previouslyknown as Reminyl) may help preventsome symptoms from becoming worsefor a limited time. Another drug,memantine (Namenda), has beenapproved to treat moderate to severeAD, although it also is limited in itseffects. Also, some medicines mayhelp control behavioral symptoms ofAD such as sleeplessness, agitation,wandering, anxiety, and depression.Treating these symptoms often makes

New Areas of ResearchThe National Institute on Aging(NIA), part of the National Institutesof Health (NIH), is the lead Federalagency for AD research. NIA-supported scientists are testing a number ofdrugs to see if they prevent AD, slowthe disease, or help reduce symptoms.Researchers undertake clinical trials tolearn whether treatments that appearpromising in observational and animal studies actually are safe andeffective in people. Some ideas thatseem promising turn out to have littleor no benefit when they are carefullystudied in a clinical trial.

Neuroimaging. Scientists are

finding that damage to parts of thebrain involved in memory, such as thehippocampus, can sometimes be seenon brain scans before symptoms of thedisease occur. An NIA public-privatepartnership—the AD NeuroimagingInitiative (ADNI)—is a large study thatwill determine whether magneticresonance imaging (MRI) andpositron emission tomography (PET)

Fact Sheet
Fact Sheet

, however,

til they do

ination of

n dies.

make a

robable”

live.

octors can

 90 per

e several

” AD,

n’s general

lems, and

ctivities,

m solving,

language,

sts of

uid, and

ults help

le causes

or exam

 reactions,

nd blood

an cause

 these

ated

AD is a slow disease, starting with mildmemory problems and ending withsevere brain damage. The course thedisease takes and how fast changesoccur vary from person to person. Onaverage, AD patients live from 8 to 10years after they are diagnosed, thoughsome people may live with AD for asmany as 20 years.

No treatment can stop AD. However, for some people in the early and

middle stages of the disease, the drugstacrine (Cognex, which is still available but no longer actively marketedby the manufacturer), donepezil(Aricept), rivastigmine (Exelon), orgalantamine (Razadyne, previouslyknown as Reminyl) may help preventsome symptoms from becoming worsefor a limited time. Another drug,memantine (Namenda), has beenapproved to treat moderate to severeAD, although it also is limited in itseffects. Also, some medicines mayhelp control behavioral symptoms ofAD such as sleeplessness, agitation,wandering, anxiety, and depression.Treating these symptoms often makes

their care easier for caregivers.New Areas of ResearchThe National Institute on Aging(NIA), part of the National Institutesof Health (NIH), is the lead Federalagency for AD research. NIA-supported scientists are testing a number ofdrugs to see if they prevent AD, slowthe disease, or help reduce symptoms.Researchers undertake clinical trials tolearn whether treatments that appearpromising in observational and animal studies actually are safe andeffective in people. Some ideas thatseem promising turn out to have littleor no benefit when they are carefullystudied in a clinical trial.

Neuroimaging. Scientists are

finding that damage to parts of thebrain involved in memory, such as thehippocampus, can sometimes be seenon brain scans before symptoms of thedisease occur. An NIA public-privatepartnership—the AD NeuroimagingInitiative (ADNI)—is a large study thatwill determine whether magneticresonance imaging (MRI) andpositron emission tomography (PET)

Fact Sheet
Fact Sheet

til they do

ination of

n dies.

make a

robable”

live.

octors can

 90 per

e several

” AD,

n’s general

lems, and

ctivities,

m solving,

language,

sts of

uid, and

ults help

le causes

or exam

 reactions,

nd blood

an cause

 these

ated

AD is a slow disease, starting with mildmemory problems and ending withsevere brain damage. The course thedisease takes and how fast changesoccur vary from person to person. Onaverage, AD patients live from 8 to 10years after they are diagnosed, thoughsome people may live with AD for asmany as 20 years.

No treatment can stop AD. However, for some people in the early and

middle stages of the disease, the drugstacrine (Cognex, which is still available but no longer actively marketedby the manufacturer), donepezil(Aricept), rivastigmine (Exelon), orgalantamine (Razadyne, previouslyknown as Reminyl) may help preventsome symptoms from becoming worsefor a limited time. Another drug,memantine (Namenda), has beenapproved to treat moderate to severeAD, although it also is limited in itseffects. Also, some medicines mayhelp control behavioral symptoms ofAD such as sleeplessness, agitation,wandering, anxiety, and depression.Treating these symptoms often makes

New Areas of ResearchThe National Institute on Aging(NIA), part of the National Institutesof Health (NIH), is the lead Federalagency for AD research. NIA-supported scientists are testing a number ofdrugs to see if they prevent AD, slowthe disease, or help reduce symptoms.Researchers undertake clinical trials tolearn whether treatments that appearpromising in observational and animal studies actually are safe andeffective in people. Some ideas thatseem promising turn out to have littleor no benefit when they are carefullystudied in a clinical trial.

Neuroimaging. Scientists are

finding that damage to parts of thebrain involved in memory, such as thehippocampus, can sometimes be seenon brain scans before symptoms of thedisease occur. An NIA public-privatepartnership—the AD NeuroimagingInitiative (ADNI)—is a large study thatwill determine whether magneticresonance imaging (MRI) andpositron emission tomography (PET)

Fact Sheet
Fact Sheet

t of AD.

 contact

standing

way in

Findings

begun to

normal

s, MCI,

 made

he changes

ain, which

sible

oundation

ease Pre

esigned to:

rs and who

oping it,

diagnosis

 those at

t new

ehavioral

 AD.

Most often, spouses and other familymembers provide the day-to-day carefor people with AD. As the diseasegets worse, people often need moreand more care. This can be hard forcaregivers and can affect their physicaland mental health, family life, job,and finances.

The Alzheimer’s Association has

chapters nationwide that provideeducational programs and supportgroups for caregivers and family members of people with AD. Contact information for the Alzheimer’s Associationis listed at the end of this fact sheet.For More InformationTo learn about support groups, services, research centers, getting involvedin studies, and publications about AD,contact the following:Alzheimer’s Disease Education andReferral (ADEAR) CenterP.O. Box 8250Silver Spring, MD 20907-82501-800-438-4380www.alzheimers.nia.nih.govThis service of the NIA offers information

NIH Publication No. 06-3431

July 2006

Fact Sheet

education and training, and researchrelated to AD. Staff answer telephone, email, and written requests and makereferrals to local and national resources.Alzheimer’s Association225 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1700Chicago, IL 60601-76331-800-272-3900www.alz.orgThis nonprofit association supportsfamilies and caregivers of patientswith AD and funds research. Chaptersnationwide provide referrals to localresources and services, and sponsorsupport groups and educationalprograms.Eldercare Locator800-677-1116www.eldercare.govThis service of the Administration onAging offers information about andreferrals to respite care and otherhome and community services offeredby State and Area Agencies on Aging.
Fact Sheet

t of AD.

 contact

standing

way in

Findings

begun to

normal

s, MCI,

 made

he changes

ain, which

sible

oundation

ease Pre

esigned to:

rs and who

oping it,

diagnosis

 those at

t new

ehavioral

 AD.

p

y

members provide the day-to-day carefor people with AD. As the diseasegets worse, people often need moreand more care. This can be hard forcaregivers and can affect their physicaland mental health, family life, job,and finances.

The Alzheimer’s Association has

chapters nationwide that provideeducational programs and supportgroups for caregivers and family members of people with AD. Contact information for the Alzheimer’s Associationis listed at the end of this fact sheet.For More InformationTo learn about support groups, services, research centers, getting involvedin studies, and publications about AD,contact the following:Alzheimer’s Disease Education andReferral (ADEAR) CenterP.O. Box 8250Silver Spring, MD 20907-82501-800-438-4380www.alzheimers.nia.nih.govThis service of the NIA offers information

NIH Publication No. 06-3431

July 2006

Fact Sheet

education and training, and researchrelated to AD. Staff answer telephone, email, and written requests and makereferrals to local and national resources.Alzheimer’s Association225 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1700Chicago, IL 60601-76331-800-272-3900www.alz.orgThis nonprofit association supportsfamilies and caregivers of patientswith AD and funds research. Chaptersnationwide provide referrals to localresources and services, and sponsorsupport groups and educationalprograms.Eldercare Locator800-677-1116www.eldercare.govThis service of the Administration onAging offers information about andreferrals to respite care and otherhome and community services offeredby State and Area Agencies on Aging.
Fact Sheet

t of AD.

 contact

standing

way in

Findings

begun to

normal

s, MCI,

 made

he changes

ain, which

sible

oundation

ease Pre

esigned to:

rs and who

oping it,

diagnosis

 those at

t new

ehavioral

 AD.

Most often, spouses and other familymembers provide the day-to-day carefor people with AD. As the diseasegets worse, people often need moreand more care. This can be hard forcaregivers and can affect their physicaland mental health, family life, job,and finances.

The Alzheimer’s Association has

chapters nationwide that provideeducational programs and supportgroups for caregivers and family members of people with AD. Contact information for the Alzheimer’s Associationis listed at the end of this fact sheet.For More InformationTo learn about support groups, services, research centers, getting involvedin studies, and publications about AD,contact the following:Alzheimer’s Disease Education andReferral (ADEAR) CenterP.O. Box 8250Silver Spring, MD 20907-82501-800-438-4380www.alzheimers.nia.nih.govThis service of the NIA offers information

NIH Publication No. 06-3431

July 2006

Fact Sheet

education and training, and researchrelated to AD. Staff answer telephone, email, and written requests and makereferrals to local and national resources.Alzheimer’s Association225 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1700Chicago, IL 60601-76331-800-272-3900www.alz.orgThis nonprofit association supportsfamilies and caregivers of patientswith AD and funds research. Chaptersnationwide provide referrals to localresources and services, and sponsorsupport groups and educationalprograms.Eldercare Locator800-677-1116www.eldercare.govThis service of the Administration onAging offers information about andreferrals to respite care and otherhome and community services offeredby State and Area Agencies on Aging.
Fact Sheet

t of AD.

 contact

standing

way in

Findings

begun to

normal

s, MCI,

 made

he changes

ain, which

sible

oundation

ease Pre

esigned to:

rs and who

oping it,

diagnosis

 those at

t new

ehavioral

 AD.

Most often, spouses and other familymembers provide the day-to-day carefor people with AD. As the diseasegets worse, people often need moreand more care. This can be hard forcaregivers and can affect their physicaland mental health, family life, job,and finances.

The Alzheimer’s Association has

chapters nationwide that provideeducational programs and supportgroups for caregivers and family members of people with AD. Contact information for the Alzheimer’s Associationis listed at the end of this fact sheet.For More InformationTo learn about support groups, services, research centers, getting involvedin studies, and publications about AD,contact the following:Alzheimer’s Disease Education andReferral (ADEAR) CenterP.O. Box 8250Silver Spring, MD 20907-82501-800-438-4380www.alzheimers.nia.nih.govThis service of the NIA offers information

NIH Publication No. 06-3431

July 2006

Fact Sheet

education and training, and researchrelated to AD. Staff answer telephone, email, and written requests and makereferrals to local and national resources.Alzheimer’s Association225 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1700Chicago, IL 60601-76331-800-272-3900www.alz.orgThis nonprofit association supportsfamilies and caregivers of patientswith AD and funds research. Chaptersnationwide provide referrals to localresources and services, and sponsorsupport groups and educationalprograms.Eldercare Locator800-677-1116www.eldercare.govThis service of the Administration onAging offers information about andreferrals to respite care and otherhome and community services offeredby State and Area Agencies on Aging.