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Dementia is a general term that describes a loss of mental functions severe enough to affect your daily life and activities.

Dementia is linked to several diseases and affects:

• The ability to focus and complete everyday tasks
• Language skills
• Memory
• Problem-solving
• Psychological health with potential personality changes
• Visual perception (your ability to make sense of what you see)

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia in older adults. In fact, Alzheimer's disease accounts for 60-80% of dementia cases. For the most part, Alzheimer's affects people 65 years or older. A small percentage of people can develop early-onset Alzheimer's.

The Alzheimer's Association lists 10 changes that can signal Alzheimer's:

• Memory loss that disrupts life
• Challenges in planning and problem-solving
• Trouble completing familiar tasks
• Confusion with time and place
• Trouble understanding visual and spatial relationships
• New problems coming up with words, speaking or writing
• Misplacing things and the inability to retrace steps
• Decreased or poor judgment
• Withdraw from work or social activities
• Changes in mood and personality

At ¸Û°Äͼ¿â and throughout the world, researchers are diligently working on treatments to slow the progression of Alzheimer's. ¸Û°Äͼ¿â participates in many of those clinical trials.

At ¸Û°Äͼ¿â, we value the team approach when it comes to diagnosing dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Neurological teams that include neuropsychologists, neurologists and radiologists review your information and determine a diagnosis. No single test can determine whether you have Alzheimer's. Rather, the diagnosis is made by evaluating and excluding other factors that could be causing dementia.

At ¸Û°Äͼ¿â and throughout the world, researchers are diligently working on treatments to slow the progression of Alzheimer's. ¸Û°Äͼ¿â participates in many of those clinical trials through the ¸Û°Äͼ¿â Research Center.

Our neurological clinical trials have included research on Alzheimer's medications, headache relief and Parkinson's disease symptom management. Giving patients access to cutting-edge trials that seek to improve neurological symptoms and conditions is an essential part of our mission. We know this is vital, not just for ¸Û°Äͼ¿â patients but for patients everywhere with neurological disorders.