A fact sheet for medical professionals

by Dr. Iman Hegazi, MBBS, MD. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology,
Global Lead Advice & Support Service (GLASS), run by The LEAD Group Inc

Alzheimer's disease (AD), or simply Alzheimer's, is the most common form of dementia. This incurable, degenerative, and terminal disease was first described by German psychiatrist and neuropathologist Alois Alzheimer in 1906 and was named after him. (1) Generally it is diagnosed in people over 65 years of age, although the less-prevalent early-onset Alzheimer's can occur much earlier. An estimated 26.6 million people worldwide had Alzheimer's in 2006; this number may quadruple by 2050.  (2, 3)

The term "Alzheimer’s" is rapidly being used by the general public to refer to any elderly person suffering from dementia. Everyone who suffers from Alzheimer's disease has dementia. However, not everyone with dementia has Alzheimer's disease. Dementia may be caused by several other diseases.