About Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative brain disorder that impacts memory, thinking skills and other important cognitive functions.

There's currently no way to prevent or cure Alzheimer's disease, which is one of the reasons that the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at Mayo Clinic is driven to achieve new understanding of the entire spectrum of aging and dementia disorders.

Dementia isn't a specific disease. Rather, dementia describes a group of symptoms affecting memory, thinking and social abilities severely enough to interfere with daily functioning.

Dementia indicates problems with at least two brain functions, such as memory loss, impaired judgment or language, and the inability to perform some daily activities, such as paying bills or driving.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia. In Alzheimer's disease, brain cells degenerate and die, causing a steady decline in memory serious enough to interfere with everyday life. Alzheimer's medications can help, for a time, with memory symptoms and other cognitive changes, but they don't prevent Alzheimer's disease from progressing.

Doctors and researchers at Mayo Clinic have extensive experience evaluating and treating people who have Alzheimer's disease and related dementia disorders. Mayo Clinic doctors from many disciplines, including neurology, neuroscience, psychology and psychiatry, collaborate to provide the best care.

Learn more about Alzheimer's disease.