You've probably heard the terms “dementia” and “Alzheimer’s” being used interchangeably. While they are related, there are distinct differences between the two terms. Dementia is the umbrella term to describe a person's changes in memory, thinking, or reasoning. There are many possible causes of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.

What is Alzheimer’s disease?

Alzheimer’s is a progressive brain disease. It's also the most common cause of dementia, accounting for 60-80% of all dementia cases.  According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 7.4 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s dementia. Given the growing population of adults age 65 and older, the number of people affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias is expected to increase as well.¹

Are there any treatments for Alzheimer's?

Research on Alzheimer’s treatments is ongoing. In the last few years, two new therapies have marked a fundamental shift in how the disease is managed. Unlike older medications that only address symptoms, these drugs are designed to target the underlying disease process and slow its progression in some people with early-stage Alzheimer’s.

Leqembi® (generic name lecanemab-irmb) 

Leqembi received full traditional approval from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration in 2023. Next to Aduhelm™, which received accelerated FDA approval in 2021 but was discontinued in 2024, Leqembi was only the second anti-amyloid Alzheimer’s disease treatment on the market. It was also the first treatment of its kind covered by original Medicare (Parts A and B) for eligible patients who meet certain conditions.

Leqembi is a monoclonal antibody given every two weeks through IV infusion. It works by binding to and removing amyloid beta plaques in the brain—a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. These plaques are abnormal protein buildups believed to contribute to the disease by damaging brain cells and affecting memory and thinking. 

Kisunla™ (donanemab) 

Kisunla received full traditional FDA approval in 2024. Like Leqembi, it’s an anti-amyloid medication used to treat patients with early symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease. While Leqembi is administered more frequently, Kisunla is given as an IV infusion typically once every four weeks.

It’s important to understand that Leqembi and Kisunla do not cure Alzheimer’s or reverse damage that’s already occurred. But these medications may help delay cognitive decline for some people in the beginning stages of the disease. This means they could have more time to actively participate in daily life, have sustained independence, and hold on to memories longer.

Ask your doctor whether either of these medications is an appropriate Alzheimer’s treatment for you or someone you know.

How do you diagnose Alzheimer's?

There's no one test that can be used to definitively diagnose Alzheimer's disease. Instead, doctors use a combination of medical history, neurological exams, brain imaging, and other diagnostic tools to make a diagnosis with as much accuracy as possible.

The approval of new therapies makes early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer's even more critical, since it helps to ensure people receive the most benefit at the earliest point possible. Early diagnosis has demonstrated better health outcomes for patients and their caregivers.

It may be hard to know the difference between age-related changes and the first signs of dementia, but memory loss that disrupts daily life is not a typical part of aging. Your memory often changes as you grow older. Some people recognize concerning changes in themselves before anyone else notices. In other cases, friends and family are the first to observe changes in memory, behavior, or abilities.

What are some early symptoms of Alzheimer's? The Alzheimer’s Association has created a list of warning signs and contrasted them with typical age-related changes.

What are the 10 early warning signs for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias?

1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life

One of the most common signs of Alzheimer’s disease, especially in the early stage, is forgetting recently learned information. Others include forgetting important dates or events, asking for the same questions over and over, and increasingly needing to rely on memory aids (e.g., reminder notes or electronic devices) or family members for things they used to handle on their own.

What’s a typical age-related change? Sometimes forgetting names or appointments, but remembering them later

2. Challenges in planning or solving problems

Some people living with dementia may experience changes in their ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers. They may have trouble following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills. They may have difficulty concentrating and take much longer to do things than they did before.

What’s a typical age-related change? Making occasional errors when balancing a checkbook

3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work, or leisure

People living with Alzheimer's often find it hard to complete daily tasks. Sometimes they may have trouble driving to a familiar location, organizing a grocery list or remembering the rules of a favorite game.

What’s a typical age-related change? Occasionally needing help to use the settings on a microwave or to record a television show

4. Confusion with time or place

People living with Alzheimer's can lose track of dates, seasons, and the passage of time. They may have trouble understanding something if it is not happening immediately. Sometimes they may forget where they are or how they got there.

What’s a typical age-related change? Getting confused about the day of the week, but figuring it out later

5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships

For some people, having vision problems is a sign of Alzheimer's. This may lead to difficulty with balance or trouble reading. They may also have problems judging distance and determining color or contrast, causing issues with driving.

What’s a typical age-related change? Vision changes related to cataracts

6. New problems with words in speaking or writing

People living with Alzheimer's may have trouble following or joining a conversation. They may stop in the middle of a conversation and have no idea how to continue or they may repeat themselves. They may struggle with vocabulary, have trouble naming a familiar object or use the wrong name (e.g., calling a "watch" a "hand-clock").

What’s a typical age-related change? Occasionally having trouble finding the right word

7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps

Early symptoms of Alzheimer's may include putting things in unusual places. Someone may lose things and be unable to go back over their steps to find them again. They may accuse others of stealing, especially as the disease progresses.

What’s a typical age-related change? Misplacing things from time to time and retracing steps to find them

8. Decreased or poor judgment

People living with Alzheimer’s may experience changes in judgment or decision-making. For example, they may use poor judgment when dealing with money or pay less attention to grooming or keeping themselves clean.

What’s a typical age-related change? Making a bad decision once in a while

9. Withdrawal from work or social activities

Another sign of Alzheimer’s progression is when someone experiences changes in their ability to hold or follow a conversation. As a result, they may withdraw from hobbies, social activities, or other engagements.

What’s a typical age-related change? Feeling weary of work, family, and social obligations every so often

10. Changes in mood and personality

People living with Alzheimer’s may experience mood and personality changes. They can become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful, or anxious. They may be easily upset at home, with friends or when out of their comfort zone.

What’s a typical age-related change? Developing very specific ways of doing things and becoming irritable when a routine is disrupted

Stay ahead of Alzheimer's progression with early detection

These warning signs are intended help you identify problems in memory, thinking, or behavior that may be related to Alzheimer’s or another dementia. People may experience one, all or some of these signs in varying degrees, and in numerous or single occurrences. They do not have to experience all symptoms for there to be concern.

If you’re seeing any changes in memory, thinking, or behavior—in either yourself or someone else—it’s important to talk to a doctor as soon as possible. Early detection allows for timely intervention and management strategies that can slow Alzheimer's progression and enable a good quality of life for as long as possible. It also gives you and your family the opportunity to plan for and make informed decisions about future care.

Source

1. Alzheimer's Association. 2026 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures Report. Found on the internet at https://www.alz.org/getmedia/ef8f48f9-ad36-48ea-87f9-b74034635c1e/alzheimers-facts-and-figures.pdf