Do all "old" people get Alzheimer's disease?
The answer is an emphatic NO. Alzheimer's disease is not a stage of normal ageing. The majority of people will never get Alzheimer's. About 1 in 10 people over the age of 65 may be afflicted, and this incidence increases to about 25-30% of people over the age of 80.

Is there a cure for Alzheimer's disease?
No. This is a fatal disease. There are no drugs or therapies to halt the progression of the disease, or reverse the damage done. At best, there are both drugs and non drug therapies to help manage the behavioural changes associated with this disease.

How long does a person with Alzheimer's disease live?
This is impossible to predict. The symptoms, severity and rate of progression of this disease varies from person to person. An individual may live up to 20 years or more from the time of diagnosis. On average it appears to be about 10 years.

What is the difference between Alzheimer's disease and Senility?
In the past "going a bit senile" was the term used to describe odd and changing behaviours in some older people. There was little recognition, even amongst the medical profession, of Alzheimer's disease and its associated behaviour changes. The physical nature of the disease was not well understood, and it was often thought that these people were being intentionally difficult and obstructive. The term "senile" is rarely used nowadays. It is now known that the people who would once have been labeled as senile, are afflicted with a disease over which they have no control.

What is the difference between Alzheimer's disease and Dementia?
Dementia is an umbrella term describing a group of symptoms occurring together (see the 10 warning signs). These symptoms may be due to Alzheimer's disease which is the most common cause of dementia. They might also be due to other diseases some of which are treatable, which is why a thorough medical assessment is essential.