Currently, approximately 5.1 million in the United States have Alzheimer’s disease, according to the National Institute on Aging. It’s a disease that progressively robs people of their memories, behavioral abilities and cognitive functions. (Updated Pct 28, 2021)
In older people, Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia [1], but unfortunately, there is no cure. Of course, the medical community is working towards a cure and, as they do, they continue to debunk longstanding myths surrounding this deadly disease.
Here is the truth behind the top 7 myths connected to Alzheimer’s disease.
1. Alzheimer’s Isn’t Fatal.
See also: preventing Alzheimer’s
Unfortunately, this myth is not true. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, no one survives Alzheimer’s disease. Aside from significant memory loss, the destruction of brain cells brought on by the disease also causes loss of bodily functions, including a person’s ability to talk, walk, connect with other people, think, and eat [2].
2. Your Relatives Have it, So Will You.
Genes do play a role in our chances of developing the disease, but only a small number of cases – about five to seven per cent – are an inherited form of the disease known as Familial Alzheimer’s disease (often referred to as “early onset”). If you have a parent or sibling who has Alzheimer’s disease, you have a three times greater risk than someone who doesn’t. New research suggests that certain genes (such as the apolipoprotein E gene [3] ) can influence the development of the disease but experts note genes themselves don’t cause the disease, and people who don’t have the genes can still develop Alzheimer’s disease while people who do can remain disease-free.