Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain condition that slowly affects memory, thinking, and behavior. It’s the most common cause of dementia, a general term describing decline in cognitive abilities severe enough to interfere with daily life. While Alzheimer’s changes how the brain functions, it doesn’t erase who a person is. Each individual’s experience is deeply personal and unfolds differently over time.
The disease develops as abnormal proteins—amyloid and tau—build up in and around brain cells. These changes disrupt communication between neurons and eventually lead to cell death and brain shrinkage. Over time, this process causes the symptoms we associate with Alzheimer’s.
Early Signs and Progression
In the beginning, Alzheimer’s often looks like small lapses in memory: forgetting recent events, repeating questions, or struggling to find the right word. A person may still manage most of their daily activities, but notice that things feel harder than before.
Symptoms can extend beyond memory loss. Individuals may:
- Have increasing trouble planning, reasoning, or making decisions
- Struggle with language or visual-spatial tasks
- Experience confusion about time, place, or familiar surroundings
- Experience mood swings and changes in personality or judgment
As the condition progresses, Alzheimer’s can affect basic functions such as eating, dressing, communication, and other daily tasks. The pace of progression varies widely; some people decline slowly over many years, while others change more rapidly.
What causes Alzheimer’s?
The exact cause of Alzheimer’s isn’t fully understood, but researchers have learned that Alzheimer’s develops from a combination of many factors, with the most prominent being age-related brain changes, genetics, and overall health.
- Age remains the greatest known risk factor, especially after age 65.
- Genetics, such as variations in the APOE gene, can increase risk but do not determine disease onset.
- Health and lifestyle factors, including high blood pressure, diabetes, poor sleep, social isolation, and limited physical activity, can also play a role in increasing risk for Alzheimer’s.
Researchers continue to explore how inflammation, vascular health, and other conditions interact to influence brain aging and disease progression.
Diagnosis and evaluation
There’s no single test for Alzheimer’s, but a careful medical evaluation can reveal important clues. Healthcare professionals typically perform a review of medical and family history, cognitive and neurological assessments, and brain imaging, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In some cases, advanced tests measure amyloid or tau levels in the blood or cerebrospinal fluid or in the brain using positron emission tomography (PET) scans, helping to confirm an accurate diagnosis.
Getting evaluated early can make a world of a difference, not only for treatment planning and access to new disease-modifying therapies, but also for helping individuals and families plan ahead and maintain independence and quality of life for as long as possible.
Treatment and care
There is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s, but there are treatments and care options that can ease symptoms and help slow progression.
New disease-modifying therapies, such as Leqembi® (lecanemab) and KisunlaTM (donanemab) are FDA-approved IV treatments designed to target amyloid and help slow early Alzheimer’s progression. These treatments are designed for individuals living with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease, with confirmed elevated beta-amyloid levels in the brain.
Medications such as cholinesterase inhibitors or NMDA receptor blockers can support memory and thinking for individuals in different stages of Alzheimer’s. Cholinesterase inhibitors prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine, which helps with memory and learning, and NMDA receptor blockers work by inhibiting NMDA receptors in the brain that can cause neuronal injury associated with neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Beyond medication, other forms of treatment and care, notably cognitive rehabilitation therapy, have been shown to build cognitive reserve, improve cognitive function, and minimize the impact of dementia on daily life. Other kinds of speech and occupational therapy can strengthen skills and improve quality of life. Evidence-based lifestyle medicine that focuses on physical activity, nutrition, sleep, stress management, and social engagement has also been shown to support overall brain health.
While Alzheimer’s changes many aspects of life, it doesn’t erase the possibility of joy and meaningful connection. With a timely diagnosis, tailored treatment planning, and access to community resources, individuals and families can continue to lead fulfilling lives.
Support for families and caregivers
Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s can be both deeply meaningful and emotionally challenging. No one should have to walk this journey alone.
The Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org) offers a 24/7 helpline (1-800-272-3900), support groups, and education for families navigating care. Medicare’s GUIDE (Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience) model is another valuable program that covers care coordination, medical services, caregiver support, and respite services for eligible families. Reach out to Isaac Health’s care team at (888) 818–2059 to learn more about the GUIDE program, medical treatment, and caregiver support.