Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia in older people. It is characterized by memory loss, deteriorating language skills, and impaired judgment. Named for Dr. Alois Alzheimer (a German physician), this disease affects 5 percent of people ages 65 to 74. The older a person gets, the more likely he or she is to develop Alzheimer's. While treatments exist to help improve the symptoms of this condition, there currently is no cure.