Alzheimer's disease
noun
Alz·hei·mer's disease
ˈälts-ˌhī-mərz- 
ˈalts-
ˈȯlts-
ˈalts-
ˈȯlts-
variants
or less commonly Alzheimer disease
or Alzheimer's
: a degenerative brain disease of unknown cause that is the most common form of dementia, that usually starts in late middle age or in old age, that results in progressive memory loss, impaired thinking, disorientation, and changes in personality and mood, and that is marked histologically by the degeneration of brain neurons especially in the cerebral cortex and by the presence of neurofibrillary tangles and plaques containing beta-amyloid
Behavioral problems, such as mood swings and agitation, may also be a part of the progression of Alzheimer's disease.—
Allan Perel
Allan Perel… the ability to differentiate normal aging-related memory changes from the impairments associated with dementia, including Alzheimer disease …—C. Munro Cullum
C. Munro Cullum… researchers in California have created mice carrying the gene for beta-amyloid protein, the principal component of the plaques riddling the brains of people with Alzheimer's.—Charlene Crabb
Charlene CrabbNote: Alzheimer's is often used before another noun.
Alzheimer's patients
—abbreviation AD
Examples of Alzheimer's disease in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
There is currently no cure for Alzheimer's disease but some medications and immunotherapies are available that may help slow down the progression of the condition, manage symptoms and improve quality of life for patients.
—
Yi-Jin Yu,
ABC News,
1 July 2026
Her words prove true throughout his interview, during which Glover opens up for the first time about his life with Alzheimer's disease, often toggling between unfinished thoughts and poetic personal tangents.
—
Janine Rubenstein,
PEOPLE,
1 July 2026
Today, people are living longer with Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, cancer, heart disease and other chronic conditions.
—
John Samuels,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
Previous research suggested caffeine may help reduce the buildup of amyloid-beta, a protein linked to Alzheimer's disease.
—
Lauren Pastrana,
CBS News,
29 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for Alzheimer's disease
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Yi-Jin Yu,
ABC News,
1 July 2026
Her words prove true throughout his interview, during which Glover opens up for the first time about his life with Alzheimer's disease, often toggling between unfinished thoughts and poetic personal tangents.
—
Janine Rubenstein,
PEOPLE,
1 July 2026
Today, people are living longer with Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, cancer, heart disease and other chronic conditions.
—
John Samuels,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
Previous research suggested caffeine may help reduce the buildup of amyloid-beta, a protein linked to Alzheimer's disease.
—
Lauren Pastrana,
CBS News,
29 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for Alzheimer's disease
Cite this Entry
“Alzheimer's disease.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Alzheimer%27s%20disease. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Alzheimer's disease
noun
Alz·hei·mer's disease
ˈälts-ˌhī-mərz
ˈalts-
ˈalts-
: a brain disease of later life that is characterized by changes in brain tissue with gradual loss of memory and mental abilities
called also Alzheimer's
Medical Definition
Alzheimer's disease
noun
Alz·hei·mer's disease
ˈälts-ˌhī-mərz-
ˈȯlts-
ˈalts-
ˈalz-
ˈȯlts-
ˈalts-
ˈalz-
variants
also Alzheimer disease
or Alzheimer's
: a degenerative brain disease of unknown cause that is the most common form of dementia, that usually starts in late middle age or in old age, that results in progressive memory loss, impaired thinking, disorientation, and changes in personality and mood, that leads in advanced cases to a profound decline in cognitive and physical functioning, and that is marked histologically by the degeneration of brain neurons especially in the cerebral cortex and by the presence of neurofibrillary tangles and plaques containing beta-amyloid
Behavioral problems, such as mood swings and agitation, may also be a part of the progression of Alzheimer's disease.—Allan Perel, The Staten Island (New York) Advance
Allan Perel, The Staten Island (New York) AdvanceAlzheimer disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia, affecting more than 15 million individuals worldwide.—Niklas Mattsson et al., The Journal of the American Medical Association
Niklas Mattsson et al., The Journal of the American Medical Association… researchers in California have created mice carrying the gene for beta-amyloid protein, the principal component of the plaques riddling the brains of people with Alzheimer's.—Charlene Crabb, U.S. News & World Report
—abbreviation AD
Charlene Crabb, U.S. News & World ReportLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
