What is Alzheimer’s disease?
![Elderly African American woman](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20090201091043im_/http://www.nia.nih.gov/NR/rdonlyres/D0DC4003-CD4C-4D31-8EE7-6537DBA005C8/4334/NIA415APOSTOLIC69.jpg) |
Alzheimer’s disease usually affects people over 60. |
Alzheimer’s disease is an illness of the brain. It causes large numbers of nerve cells in the brain to die. This affects your ability to remember things and think clearly. Doctors don’t know what causes the disease. They do know that it usually begins after age 60 and nearly half of people age 85 and older may have Alzheimer’s. However, it is not a normal part of aging.