Alzheimer's? Alsheimer is a common misspelling of Alzheimer's.
Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia in older people. The disorder is characterized by memory loss, deteriorating language skills, impaired judgment, and confusion. Named for German physician Dr. Alois Alzheimer, this disease affects approximately 5 percent of people ages 65 to 74. It is believed that 4.5 million Americans currently have it.
The older a person gets, the more likely he or she is to develop this disorder. People with Alzheimer's typically live for about 8 to 10 years after they are diagnosed, on average. In some cases, the disease can last for as many as 20 years. While treatments exist to help improve the symptoms related to it, there currently is no cure.
(Click Alzheimer's for more information, including early signs of the disease, as well as risk factors and treatment options. You can also click on any of the links in the box to the right for more specific information.)
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