{"id":354,"date":"2023-02-14T16:22:08","date_gmt":"2023-02-14T21:22:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/brain-health\/?page_id=354"},"modified":"2026-02-18T13:35:11","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T18:35:11","slug":"alzheimers-disease-and-dementia","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/brain-health\/alzheimers-disease-and-dementia\/","title":{"rendered":"Alzheimer\u2019s Disease and Dementia"},"content":{"rendered":"
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On This Page<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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What is Dementia?<\/a><\/strong>
\nHow Common is Dementia?<\/a><\/strong>
\nIsn't Dementia a Normal Part of Aging?<\/a><\/strong>
\nSigns and Symptoms of Dementia<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Risk Factors of Dementia<\/a><\/strong>
\nHow is Dementia Diagnosed?<\/a><\/strong>
\nHow is Dementia Treated?<\/a><\/strong>
\nWhat Are the Most Common Types of Dementia?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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What are Alzheimer\u2019s Disease and Dementia?<\/h3>\n

Dementia is a general term for conditions that cause loss of memory severe enough that they may impact a person\u2019s ability to carry out his or her daily activities. Dementia is not a specific disease. It's an overall term that describes a group of symptoms. Alzheimer\u2019s disease is a degenerative brain disease and the most common cause of dementia.<\/p>\n

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What is Dementia?<\/h3>\n

Dementia is not a specific disease but is rather a general term for the impaired ability to remember, think, or make decisions that interferes with doing everyday activities. Alzheimer\u2019s disease is the most common type of dementia. Though dementia mostly affects older adults, it is not a part of normal aging.<\/p>\n

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164,000 people aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer\u2019s in Virginia.<\/i><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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How Common is Dementia?<\/h3>\n

Of those at least 65 years of age, there is an estimated\u00a0nearly 7 million adults with dementia<\/strong>\u00a0in 2024. By 2050, nearly 13 million Americans could be living with Alzheimer's, with costs reaching nearly $1 trillion.<\/p>\n

In Virginia:<\/strong><\/u><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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164,000<\/h2>\n

people aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer\u2019s Disease.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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9.5%<\/h2>\n

of people aged 45 and older have subjective cognitive decline.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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342,000<\/h2>\n

family caregivers bear the burden of the disease every day.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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662 million<\/h2>\n

hours of unpaid care provided by Alzheimer\u2019s caregivers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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$12.5 billion<\/h2>\n

is the value of the unpaid care provided by family members.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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$1.2 million<\/h2>\n

is the cost of Alzheimer\u2019s to the state Medicaid program.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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These numbers show that a public health approach is necessary to lessen the burden and enhance the quality of life for those living with cognitive impairment and their families.<\/p>\n

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Isn\u2019t Dementia a Normal Part of Aging?<\/b><\/h3>\n

No, many older adults live their entire lives without developing dementia. Normal aging may include weakening muscles and bones, stiffening of arteries and vessels, and some age-related memory changes that may show as:<\/p>\n