Disease or Syndrome
Alzheimer's
Alz·hei·mer's [ ahlts-hahy-merz, alts-, awlts- ]
Subclass of:
Tauopathies;
Dementia
Also called:
Alzheimer Disease; AD
Definitions related to alzheimer's disease:
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(alzheimer disease) A brain disorder that usually starts in late middle age or old age and gets worse over time. Symptoms include loss of memory, confusion, difficulty thinking, and changes in language, behavior, and personality.NCI Dictionary of Cancer TermsU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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(alzheimer disease) A degenerative disease of the BRAIN characterized by the insidious onset of DEMENTIA. Impairment of MEMORY, judgment, attention span, and problem solving skills are followed by severe APRAXIAS and a global loss of cognitive abilities. The condition primarily occurs after age 60, and is marked pathologically by severe cortical atrophy and the triad of SENILE PLAQUES; NEUROFIBRILLARY TANGLES; and NEUROPIL THREADS. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp1049-57)NLM Medical Subject HeadingsU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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A progressive brain disease that causes memory loss, impaired thinking, and personality changes.Harvard Dictionary of Health TermsHarvard Medical Publishing, 2011
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A progressive, neurodegenerative disease characterized by loss of function and death of nerve cells in several areas of the brain leading to loss of cognitive function such as memory and language.NCI ThesaurusU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia among older people. Dementia is a brain disorder that seriously affects a person's ability to carry out daily activities. AD begins slowly. It first involves the parts of the brain that control thought, memory and language. People with AD may have trouble remembering things that happened recently or names of people they know. A related problem, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), causes more memory problems than normal for people of the same age. Many, but not all, people with MCI will develop AD. In AD, over time, symptoms get worse. People may not recognize family members. They may have trouble speaking, reading or writing. They may forget how to brush their teeth or comb their hair. Later on, they may become anxious or aggressive, or wander away from home. Eventually, they need total care. This can cause great stress for family members who must care for them. AD usually begins after age 60. The risk goes up as you get older. Your risk is also higher if a family member has had the disease. No treatment can stop the disease. However, some drugs may help keep symptoms from getting worse for a limited time. NIH: National Institute on AgingMedlinePlusU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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Neurodegenerative disorder of the CNS resulting in progressive loss of memory and intellectual functions; begins in the middle or later years; characterized by brain lesions such as neurofibrillary tangles and neuritic plaques.CRISP ThesaurusNational Institutes of Health, 2006
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Alzheimer disease causes progressive cognitive deterioration and is characterized by beta-amyloid deposits and neurofibrillary tangles in the cerebral cortex and subcortical gray matter. Diagnosis is clinical; laboratory and imaging tests are usually done to look for specific findings that suggest Alzheimer disease and to identify other...Merck & Co., Inc., 2020
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Alzheimer disease (AD) is an acquired disorder of cognitive and behavioral impairment that markedly interferes with social and occupational functioning. It is an incurable disease with a long and progressive course.WebMD, 2019
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Alzheimer's disease is a progressive disorder that causes brain cells to waste away (degenerate) and die. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia - a continuous decline in thinking, behavioral and social skills that disrupts a person's ability to function independently.Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
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Alzheimer disease (AD) is a degenerative disease of the brain that causes gradual loss of memory, judgment, and the ability to function socially. Alzheimer disease currently affects about 5 million people. About 75 percent of Alzheimer disease cases are classified as sporadic, which means they occur in people with no history of the...National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
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Alzheimer disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease with an insidious onset and progressive but slow decline. AD is the most common type of dementia. It often coexists with other forms such as vascular (mixed-type dementia). The histopathology of AD is characterized by senile plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, and neuronal loss....Athenahealth, Inc., 2019
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Alzheimer disease, degenerative brain disorder that develops in mid-to-late adulthood. It results in a progressive and irreversible decline in memory and a deterioration of various other cognitive abilities. The disease is characterized by the destruction of nerve cells and neural connections in...Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2020
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