Alzheimer's Disease

Overview

Alzheimer's disease is a disorder in which protein deposits (plaques) collect in the brain, causing nerve cells (neurons) to degenerate and eventually die. This process leaves behind substances called tangles. As your nerve cells lose function, you'll experience a steady loss of memory and other thinking abilities (cognitive skills) and gradually lose your independence. Alzheimer's disease can't be cured, but doctors can help you manage your condition.

Why choose Mayo Clinic for Alzheimer's disease

• Experience and expertise. Doctors and researchers at Mayo Clinic have extensive experience evaluating people who have Alzheimer's disease.
• Treatment expertise. Mayo Clinic doctors have expertise treating Alzheimer's disease. Mayo Clinic has pioneered new models of care for people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a condition that often leads to Alzheimer's disease.
• Team approach. Mayo Clinic doctors work together to care for you.
• Research. Mayo Clinic doctors conduct research to identify the causes and develop new treatments for Alzheimer's disease.

Mayo Clinic: Answers you can trust

At Mayo Clinic, we assemble a team of specialists who take the time to listen and thoroughly understand your health issues and concerns. We tailor the care you receive to your personal health care needs. You can trust our specialists to collaborate and offer you the best possible outcomes, safety and service.

Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical institution that reinvests all earnings into improving medical practice, research and education. We're constantly involved in innovation and medical research, finding solutions to improve your care and quality of life. Your doctor or someone on your medical team is likely involved in research related to your condition.

Our patients tell us that the quality of their interactions, our attention to detail and the efficiency of their visits mean health care — and trusted answers — like they've never experienced.

Why Choose Mayo Clinic
What Sets Mayo Clinic Apart

Read more about the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.