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Visit our <\/em><\/em>Brain Health Hub<\/em><\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n September is <\/em><\/em>World Alzheimer\u2019s Month<\/em><\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n Nearly 2 out of 3 people living with Alzheimer\u2019s disease are women.<\/p>\n We know \u2014 it\u2019s a scary stat. But we\u2019re sharing because knowledge is power. And we want you to share with your friends and family and all the women you know because when we talk about Alzheimer\u2019s disease<\/a>, we can get past the scary stuff and focus on what women can do to help reduce the risk for the progressive brain disorder.<\/a><\/p>\n Alzheimer\u2019s slowly destroys cognitive skills, such as learning, thinking, paying attention and remembering, over time and eventually leads to the inability to do simple, everyday tasks. But the key here is over time<\/em><\/em>.<\/p>\n Studies show being proactive about your brain health can help lower the risk for Alzheimer\u2019s disease<\/a>. And knowing the risk factors, signs and symptoms can help you catch Alzheimer\u2019s in the earlier stages when the most treatment options are available.<\/p>\n Research is ongoing as to why the disease affects more women than men and what exactly causes Alzheimer\u2019s in the first place. It\u2019s no surprise that the internet has theories. Heck, you might too. Either way, there\u2019s a lot of misinformation about Alzheimer\u2019s disease out there.<\/p>\n So, in honor of World Alzheimer\u2019s Day \u2014 and women\u2019s brains everywhere \u2014 we\u2019re busting some of the most common myths about Alzheimer\u2019s disease<\/a> with cold, hard facts.<\/p>\n 1. \u201cAlzheimer\u2019s and dementia are the same disease.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/h3>\n That\u2019s a no. Alzheimer\u2019s disease and dementia are related, but they\u2019re not the same.<\/p>\n Dementia is an umbrella term for a broad category of symptoms \u2014 decline in memory, reasoning and\/or other thinking skills \u2014 caused by underlying brain diseases. <\/p>\n Alzheimer’s is a brain disease and is the most common cause of dementia.<\/p>\n So, everyone living with Alzheimer’s disease<\/a> will eventually have dementia, but not everyone with dementia has Alzheimer’s disease.<\/p>\n Take our quiz: True or False: Alzheimer\u2019s Disease >><\/em><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n 2. \u201cAlzheimer\u2019s and memory loss are just part of aging.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/h3>\n Alzheimer\u2019s disease causes cognitive decline, including memory loss, that seriously disrupts everyday life \u2014 we\u2019re not talking about forgetting where you put your keys or the name of a TV show from time to time.<\/p>\n Alzheimer’s causes brain cells to die, which can affect memory, mood, behavior, reasoning and thinking. <\/p>\n Some common symptoms of Alzheimer\u2019s can include:<\/p>\n Memory and personality changes can happen with age, but Alzheimer\u2019s is a brain disease. The sooner someone can get a diagnosis, the better the options will be to help manage the disease. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n 3. \u201cAlzheimer’s disease only affects older adults.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/h3>\n It is true that most people diagnosed with Alzheimer\u2019s disease are 65 or older, but the disease affects younger people, too. In fact, about 200,000 people living with Alzheimer\u2019s in the U.S. are under the age of 65.<\/p>\n We now know that brain changes from Alzheimer\u2019s can start 20 years or more before symptoms start. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to be proactive about your brain health and talk to your clinician if you have a family history of dementia or Alzheimer\u2019s disease. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n 4. \u201cAlzheimer\u2019s is only diagnosed in later stages.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/h3>\n\n\n
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