Alzheimer disease

Alzheimer disease is a neuro-degenerative disease of the brain that causes changes in brain function. AD usually affects people over the age of 65 years, with a progressive decline in memory, thinking, language and learning capacity. Age is the strongest predictor for the development and progression of AD and with the rapidly aging population of our society, AD clearly poses a major health problem. An estimated 5-10% of the population aged 65 years and over and 40% of the population greater than 85 years of age are likely to be affected by AD.

The pathophysiology of AD is related to the injury and death of neurons, especially in the areas of the brain that are involved with memory and learning. Alzheimer disease is the most common dementia, accounting for 50%-75% of the total, with a greater proportion in the higher age ranges. There are nearly 18 million people with dementia in the world today. The number of people with dementia is expected to increase steadily over the next 25 years. By 2025, there will be about 34 million people with dementia in the world.