7 Myths About Alzheimer's Disease

Medically Reviewed By William C. Lloyd III, MD, FACS
Written By Ellen Greenlaw on December 13, 2020
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New research offers answers about Alzheimer’s.There are still many unknowns about Alzheimer’s disease, such as what causes the condition and how to prevent it. But there is much experts do know, and new research uncovers more answers all the time. A better understanding of the disease will hopefully lead to new and more effective treatments. Learn how you can separate myth from fact.
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Myth 1: Memory loss means you have Alzheimer’s.Most people have some memory loss as they age. From time to time, we all forget the name of someone we just met or a movie title. The memory loss of Alzheimer’s is more severe. For example, someone with Alzheimer’s may ask the same question many times or forget words in the middle of a sentence. People with Alzheimer’s may also have trouble doing familiar tasks, such as paying bills or following a recipe.
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Myth 2: Alzheimer’s happens only to older people.While it’s true most people with Alzheimer’s are age 65 or older, some people get this disease at a younger age. It can occur anytime from age 30 to 60. When this happens, it’s called early-onset Alzheimer’s. It’s not very common—only about 5% of all people with Alzheimer’s have this form of the illness.
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Myth 3: Alzheimer’s always runs in families.Although experts don’t know what causes late-onset Alzheimer’s, it does not seem to be purely genetic. Researchers believe a mix of environment, genes, and lifestyle factors causes Alzheimer’s. However, early-onset Alzheimer’s—a rare type of the illness—does seem to be caused by a gene and runs in families. If someone in your family has early-onset Alzheimer’s, ask your doctor whether genetic testing is an option.
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Myth 4: You can prevent Alzheimer’s.Right now there is no surefire way to prevent Alzheimer’s. Experts are looking at lifestyle factors, including exercise, diet, and keeping your brain active, that may offer clues as to how to prevent the disease Researchers are also looking at the link between chronic diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease, and Alzheimer’s. Some research shows controlling these conditions may reduce Alzheimer’s risk.
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Myth 5: There are no treatments for Alzheimer’s.While it’s true no treatment can stop Alzheimer’s disease, there are some medicines that help treat it. These medicines can help preserve memory, thinking and speaking for a short time—usually about 6 to 12 months. They work best for people who have mild or moderate Alzheimer’s. Finding new Alzheimer’s treatments and ways to prevent the disease is a focus of research all over the world.
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Myth 6: Everyone with dementia has Alzheimer’s.Dementia is a loss of mental skills, such as reasoning, memory and thinking. Although Alzheimer’s is the number one cause of dementia in older people, it is not the only cause. It is possible to have dementia and not have Alzheimer’s. Stroke is another major cause of dementia. Dementia is also a symptom of Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease.
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Myth 7: It’s easy to diagnose Alzheimer’s.There is no one test that checks for Alzheimer’s. Doctors diagnose Alzheimer’s by asking questions about symptoms and looking for certain changes in daily routines. They may also perform blood tests or brain scans to rule out other problems. With this information, doctors can tell if a patient has Alzheimer’s about 90% of the time. Certain people are candidates for a special brain scan called a PET scan. It can identify changes in the brain that some research suggests are hallmarks of Alzheimer’s, but it’s not a definitive diagnosis. Currently, the only way to be certain someone had Alzheimer’s is to check his or her brain after death.
7 Myths About Alzheimer's Disease