In the Sea Services (Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard), a Mustang is an Officer who has promoted up from the ranks of Navy enlisted personnel through an in... Skip navigation Sign in
What is Alzheimer's disease? Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia. The word dementia describes a set of symptoms that can include memory loss and difficulties with thinking, problem-solving or language. These symptoms occur when the brain is damaged by certain diseases, including Alzheimer's disease.
The work was funded by NIH's National Institute on Aging (NIA) and National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), as well as by 18 other international public and private organizations. We do not fully understand what causes Alzheimer's disease, but we know that genetic factors can play a role, says NIA director Richard J. Hodes. M.D. Scientists have previously identified three genes, variants of which can cause early onset Alzheimer's, and one that increases risk for the late onset form.