Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disorder that damages and eventually destroys brain cells, leading to memory loss and changes in thinking and other brain functions. It usually develops slowly and gradually gets worse as brain function declines and brain cells eventually wither and die. Ultimately, Alzheimer's is fatal and currently, there is no cure.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia, a general term used to describe various diseases and conditions that damage brain cells. Alzheimer's disease accounts for 50 to 80 percent of dementia cases.

Although Alzheimer's is not a normal part of growing older, the greatest risk factor for the disease is increasing age. After age 65, the risk of Alzheimer's doubles every five years. After age 85, the risk reaches nearly 50 percent.

Another Alzheimer's risk factor is family history. Research has shown that those who have a parent, brother, sister or child with Alzheimer's are more likely to develop the disease.

Now the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved five medications to treat the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease:

1. donepezil

2. galantamine

3. memantine

4. rivastigmine

5. donepezil and memantine