REMEMBERING FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT: 

THE TRUTHS AND MYTHS OF ALZHEIMER DISEASE

George Perry, Ph.D. Dean and Professor

Semmes Foundation Distinguished University Chair in Neurobiology

Changes of the Brain

alz.org

In the Alzheimer brain:• The cortex shrivels

up, damaging areas involved in thinking, planning and remembering.

• Shrinkage is especially severe in the hippocampus, an area of the cortex that plays a key role in formation of new memories.

• Ventricles (fluid-filled spaces within the brain) grow larger.

Where Do We Go From Here?

Requires understanding the biology of aging

Lifestyle modification has substantial benefit

Improved care for patients Better quality of life

Improvement in diagnosis If we can delay onset by five

years, we reduce the disease by half!

Truths or Myths of AD Memory loss is a natural part of

aging. Alzheimer's disease is hereditary. Alzheimer’s disease is not fatal. Head injury can lead to Alzheimer's

disease. There are therapies available to stop

the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.