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What is Alzheimer's?

What is Alzheimers?

Identifying Alzheimers

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Home>Conditions>Alzheimer's Disease>About & who's at risk
Grandad with grandaughter

What is Alzheimer's disease?

Alzheimer’s disease affects the brain. It is a type of dementia, and is caused by parts of the brain deteriorating. In the UK, it is estimated that 417,000 have Alzheimer’s disease.

Whether you want to find out about Alzheimer’s disease symptoms or you’re interested to know how improving your diet could benefit your condition, Pfizer Life has the information to help.

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Mother and daughter

Who’s at risk?

Alzheimer's disease can affect younger people but is most common in those over 65 years of age. Also, slightly more women than men are affected.

The exact reason people get Alzheimer's disease is still unknown, but we do know that the older a person is, the more likely they are to get the disease.

In people over 65 years of age, one in 14 is affected by Alzheimer's disease. The risk increases with age, with people over 80 thought to have a one in six chance of developing it.

As well as old age, there are several factors that can put you at higher risk:

  • Smoking. Research suggests that those who smoke, or have high cholesterol levels or blood pressure, have an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease
  • Diabetes or depression. Having one or both of these conditions has been found to increase the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease
  • Head injury. People who've suffered a severe head or neck injury have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease
  • Past family health. You could be at slightly higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease if someone in your family has or had it. In these cases, the disease usually starts relatively early in life - often when the person is under 50 years of age

Older man with family

Can the risk be reduced?

It's well known that leading a healthy lifestyle can help prevent illness. Although a person's risk of developing Alzheimer's disease is usually due to a combination of different factors. The Alzheimer's Society have suggested that foods high in antioxidants, such as fruits and vegetables, can help reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's. For further information see our healthy eating page.

Dispelling the myths of Alzheimer’s disease

  1. Memory loss is a part of normal aging. True or false?

    False - Recent research has found that even very early mild changes in memory are actually caused by brain lesions associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.

  2. Following a healthy lifestyle will reduce the risk of developing dementia. True or false?

    True - Studies tell us that people who enjoy a healthy lifestyle - by eating a well-balanced diet, not smoking and taking regular exercise – will reduce their chances of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Since several possible risk factors for Alzheimer's are also linked to heart disease and stroke, it is possible that a healthy lifestyle to protect against these diseases could also help prevent Alzheimer’s disease.

  3. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia. True or false?

    True - There are over a hundred different types of dementia including Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies and fronto-temporal dementia. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form, affecting around 417,000 people, accounting for 50 - 60% of all cases of dementia and is caused by abnormal brain tissue changes.

  4. Dementia is a normal consequence of ageing. True or false?

    False - Dementia is not a part of the ageing process. Age is an important risk factor for dementia but it is not the only one. One in five people over the age of 80 have dementia, which means that 80% do not.

  5. If you get Alzheimer’s disease, nothing can be done about it. True or false?

    False - Although Alzheimer’s disease can’t be cured, there are treatments and a great deal of support on offer. Treatments can improve symptoms or help slow down the disease’s progression. For support and information, contact the Alzheimer’s Society at www.alzheimers.org.uk or Alzheimer Scotland at www.alzscot.org

  6. Using aluminium saucepans, or drinking out of aluminium cans affects the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. True or false?

    False - During the 1960s and 1970s, aluminium was suspected as a possible cause to Alzheimer’s disease. However, since then, there has been no convincing scientific evidence that link cooking with aluminium saucepans with an increased the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

  7. Ginkgo biloba will help people with dementia. True or false?

    False - A recent study has found no evidence that a standard dose of high purity Ginkgo biloba gives any benefit in the treatment of mild-moderate dementia.

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