Understanding Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's disease comes with a lot of terminology: dementia, amyloid, tau, biomarkers, PET scans, blood tests, genetics, treatments and more. This path builds those ideas one at a time so the later concepts make sense.
Explore in your own order
Know what you're curious about? Choose any topic. We'll suggest related concepts as you go.
What is dementia?
Why dementia is like “dog” — and Alzheimer’s is a Golden Retriever
What is Alzheimer's disease?
The most common cause of dementia
Helpful to know first: What is dementia?
What happens in the Alzheimer's brain?
The biological changes that define Alzheimer's
Helpful to know first: What is Alzheimer's disease?
What is amyloid?
A key protein in Alzheimer's biology
Helpful to know first: What is Alzheimer's disease?
What is tau?
The other hallmark protein in Alzheimer's
Helpful to know first: What is amyloid?
How Alzheimer's changes the brain over time
The progression from biology to symptoms
Helpful to know first: What is tau?
Symptoms and stages
What changes and when
Helpful to know first: How Alzheimer's changes the brain over time
How Alzheimer's is evaluated
How clinicians assess cognition
Helpful to know first: Symptoms and stages
What is a biomarker?
Measuring what's happening in the brain
Helpful to know first: What is amyloid?
Blood biomarkers
A new frontier in detection
Helpful to know first: What is a biomarker?
Amyloid PET and CSF biomarkers
Imaging and spinal fluid testing
Helpful to know first: What is a biomarker?
Genetics and APOE
Inherited risk factors
Helpful to know first: What is a biomarker?
How Alzheimer's is treated
Current approaches and limitations
Helpful to know first: Symptoms and stages
What researchers are studying
Where the science is heading
Helpful to know first: How Alzheimer's is treated