Alzheimer’s disease is a leading cause of death in the United States, and millions of Americans are affected by the disease. It’s important to distinguish the facts from the myths about Alzheimer’s, especially when it comes to finding information online. A few common myths surrounding this disease are:
- Alzheimer’s and dementia are the same thing. People often use the terms “Alzheimer’s disease” and “dementia” interchangeably, but there is a difference. Dementia refers to impaired memory, thinking, reasoning, and behavior, and Alzheimer’s is just one type of dementia.
- I will develop Alzheimer’s if my parent has it. A person’s chance of developing Alzheimer’s is higher if they have certain genetic variants passed down from a parent. However, just because a biological parent has Alzheimer’s does not mean that their children will develop it.
- Alzheimer’s disease symptoms are normal as we get older. Many people become more forgetful as they age, and some forgetfulness is normal. However, the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s are not a normal part of aging.
Read about more common myths and get the facts about Alzheimer’s disease.
Last Updated on December 13, 2022
