[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/11\/recognizing-signs-alzheimers\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/11\/recognizing-signs-alzheimers\/","headline":"Recognizing the Signs of Alzheimer’s","name":"Recognizing the Signs of Alzheimer’s","description":"Alzheimer's dementia, the leading cause of dementia, is present in 5 to 10 percent of seniors today. Learn more about this progressive disease.","datePublished":"2014-11-24","dateModified":"2023-04-24","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/seniors-regions","name":"UPMC Senior Services","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/seniors-regions","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/senior-services\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/GettyImages-1253272878-1.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/GettyImages-1253272878-1.jpg","height":325,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/11\/recognizing-signs-alzheimers\/","about":["Living and Wellness","Senior Health"],"wordCount":289,"keywords":["aging","Alzheimer's","Alzheimer's disease","dementia"],"articleBody":"Alzheimer’s disease\u00a0is the leading form of dementia. Each year, 1 in 3 seniors in the United States dies from Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. It causes brain cells to break down and die, making it hard for someone to perform daily tasks or care for themselves.Researchers are working to find the causes of Alzheimer’s disease and ways to manage or even cure it. Age is the greatest risk factor for developing the disease. People over age 65 have a much higher chance of developing dementia. Younger people are sometimes diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s. A family history of the disease may increase your risk for some forms of dementia.Importance of Early DiagnosisTreatments are available to ease Alzheimer’s symptoms and improve quality of life in some people, but there is no cure for the disease. Available treatments are more effective in the early stages of the disease. That makes early detection is important.Alzheimer’s is hard to recognize and diagnose. Early symptoms can mimic other illnesses or normal changes in brain function. If your loved one shows signs of Alzheimer’s and dementia, take them to their primary care doctor for evaluation. Testing can help rule out other issues.Physical, neurological, and mental evaluations help decide if someone has the disease. New diagnostic tests have improved the accuracy of diagnosing Alzheimer’s.While no cure exists for Alzheimer’s, research is ongoing to find better ways to treat and even cure the disease. For more information on this topic, visit the\u00a0University of Pittsburgh’s Alzheimer Disease Research Center\u00a0or\u00a0Education and Consultative Services of UPMC Senior Services.Editor's Note: This gallery was originally published on November 24, 2014, and was last reviewed on October 27, 2021."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2014","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"11","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/\/11\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Recognizing the Signs of Alzheimer’s","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/11\/recognizing-signs-alzheimers\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]