Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking, and behavior. Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks. While there is no cure yet,  experts at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem are diligently working to learn more about the disease and develop ways to treat, prevent, and ultimately stop a disease that affects more than 5.5 million Americans.

From developing an effective medicine for treating Alzheimer’s symptoms to investigating which foods may prevent the disease, to researching Alzheimer’s on the molecular level, Hebrew University researchers are unrelenting in their efforts to discover more about this complex disease.

Alzheimer’s is progressive, with dementia symptoms gradually worsen over several of years. Knowing the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s is key to early detection and diagnosis, which in turn can lead to expanding treatment and intervention options.

The most common early symptom of Alzheimer’s is difficulty remembering newly learned information. The National Institute of Health states decline in non-memory aspects of cognition, such as word-finding, vision/spatial issues, and impaired reasoning or judgment, may signal the very early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. In its early stages, memory loss is mild, but with late-stage Alzheimer’s, individuals lose the ability to carry on a conversation and respond to their environment.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia, a general term for memory loss and other cognitive abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 60 -80% of dementia cases. The greatest known risk factor is increasing age, and the majority of people with Alzheimer’s are 65 and older. However, approximately 200,000 Americans under the age of 65 have early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.