Term of the Week: Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease is a slowly progressive degenerative brain disease that causes memory problems, disorientation, and confusion. Alzheimer's progresses to dementia and eventually causes physical problems such as trouble with swallowing and motor coordination, and ultimately leads to death. Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia in the U.S. and is typically a disease of old age.

While Alzheimer's is usually a disease of old age, there is an increased risk for people with Down syndrome to develop Alzheimer's disease and to develop it at a younger age than the general population.