1. Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are the same disease.
Correct
Incorrect
false. Dementia is a general term for a severe decline in mental ability and includes symptoms like decline in memory, reasoning or other thinking skills. Alzheimer’s disease is a specific disease and is the most common cause of dementia.
2. Alzheimer’s affects more women than men.
Correct
Incorrect
true. Two-thirds of people with Alzheimer’s in the U.S. are women.
3. Alzheimer’s is a normal part of aging.
Correct
Incorrect
false. Alzheimer’s is a brain disease. Although aging is a risk factor of developing Alzheimer’s, it is not a normal part of aging.
4. Because I am younger in age, I don’t have to worry about Alzheimer’s.
Correct
Incorrect
false. Even though most cases of Alzheimer’s are in people who are ages 65 and older, about 200,000 Americans under the age of 65 currently have Alzheimer’s. The disease may also begin 20 or more years before symptoms are noticed.
5. Having a family history of Alzheimer’s increases your risk of disease but doesn’t mean you will definitely develop Alzheimer’s.
Correct
Incorrect
true. There are some environmental risk factors that we may be able to control, such as eating heart healthy foods, exercising, getting plenty of sleep, minimizing stress, stimulating your brain by reading or taking up a new hobby, maintaining social connections, and taking care of your heart health.
