Visit our Brain Health Hub.
September is World Alzheimer’s Month.
Nearly 2 out of 3 people living with Alzheimer’s disease are women.
We know — it’s a scary stat. But we’re sharing because knowledge is power. And we want you to share with your friends and family and all the women you know because when we talk about Alzheimer’s disease, we can get past the scary stuff and focus on what women can do to help reduce the risk for the progressive brain disorder.
Alzheimer’s slowly destroys cognitive skills, such as learning, thinking, paying attention and remembering, over time and eventually leads to the inability to do simple, everyday tasks. But the key here is over time.
Studies show being proactive about your brain health can help lower the risk for Alzheimer’s disease. And knowing the risk factors, signs and symptoms can help you catch Alzheimer’s in the earlier stages when the most treatment options are available.
Research is ongoing as to why the disease affects more women than men and what exactly causes Alzheimer’s in the first place. It’s no surprise that the internet has theories. Heck, you might too. Either way, there’s a lot of misinformation about Alzheimer’s disease out there.
So, in honor of World Alzheimer’s Day — and women’s brains everywhere — we’re busting some of the most common myths about Alzheimer’s disease with cold, hard facts.
1. “Alzheimer’s and dementia are the same disease.”
That’s a no. Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are related, but they’re not the same.
Dementia is an umbrella term for a broad category of symptoms — decline in memory, reasoning and/or other thinking skills — caused by underlying brain diseases.
Alzheimer's is a brain disease and is the most common cause of dementia.
So, everyone living with Alzheimer's disease will eventually have dementia, but not everyone with dementia has Alzheimer's disease.
2. “Alzheimer’s and memory loss are just part of aging.”
Alzheimer’s disease causes cognitive decline, including memory loss, that seriously disrupts everyday life — we’re not talking about forgetting where you put your keys or the name of a TV show from time to time.
Alzheimer's causes brain cells to die, which can affect memory, mood, behavior, reasoning and thinking.
Some common symptoms of Alzheimer’s can include:
- Forgetting recently learned information, important dates, events and other signs of memory loss
- Difficulty following a plan (like a recipe) or using numbers
- Difficulty with familiar tasks like organizing a shopping list
- Confusion with time (dates, seasons, etc.) or place
- Vision changes that disrupt balance or cause reading problems or the ability to judge distance
- New problems speaking or naming familiar objects (calling a watch a “hand-clock”)
- Misplacing objects in unusual places
- Decreased judgment (e.g., less attention to personal appearance or poor judgment with financial decisions)
- Withdrawal from social gatherings or work
- Mood and personality shifts such as confusion, depression, being fearful, suspicious or anxious
Memory and personality changes can happen with age, but Alzheimer’s is a brain disease. The sooner someone can get a diagnosis, the better the options will be to help manage the disease.
3. “Alzheimer's disease only affects older adults.”
It is true that most people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease are 65 or older, but the disease affects younger people, too. In fact, about 200,000 people living with Alzheimer’s in the U.S. are under the age of 65.
We now know that brain changes from Alzheimer’s can start 20 years or more before symptoms start. That’s why it’s important to be proactive about your brain health and talk to your clinician if you have a family history of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
4. “Alzheimer’s is only diagnosed in later stages.”
The science around Alzheimer’s is moving fast. One notable advancement is FDA-cleared blood tests that can help rule out or diagnose Alzheimer’s in its earlier stages.
In 2025, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared two blood tests that look for signs of Alzheimer’s, and two new tests were cleared in 2026.
Note: These blood tests don’t diagnose Alzheimer’s on their own — they just indicate changes in the brain. Think of them as tools in the toolbox to help clinicians find a diagnosis.
Also good to note: The blood tests are recommended for people who show signs of mild cognitive impairment. The tests are not recommended for general screening. But if you’re experiencing symptoms or concerned about your risk for Alzheimer’s disease, talk to your clinician about your options.
Read: New Blood Tests for Alzheimer’s Can Help Diagnose the Disease >>
5. “There are no real medications to treat Alzheimer’s disease.”
Currently, there’s no cure for Alzheimer’s, but recent advancements in treatment options can help people living with the disease manage symptoms and even slow the progression of disease.
Early-stage treatments include drugs that attach and remove beta-amyloids (proteins that form plaques in the brain that cause cells to die).
Later-stage treatments focus more on managing symptoms. These medications include cholinesterase inhibitors to help with memory and thinking in people with mild cases. And glutamate regulators help with more severe symptoms such as performing everyday tasks.
The way people are receiving treatment is also evolving. In July 2026, the FDA approved the first at-home starting dose for Alzheimer’s disease treatment — that means people can begin treatment at home without having to travel to a clinic.
- Alzheimer’s Caregiving Is a Labor of Love ›
- New Hope in the Fight Against Alzheimer’s ›
- What You Need To Know About Early Onset Alzheimer’s Disease ›
