Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disorder that destroys memory and thinking skills. It is the most common cause of dementia among older adults. The main risk factor is increasing age, and symptoms usually appear after age 65. Alzheimer's damages and kills brain cells, leading to the shrinking of areas of the brain. This results in problems with memory, thinking, and behavior severe enough to affect work and daily living. The three main changes in the brain include loss of connections between neurons, the buildup of amyloid plaques, and tangles within neurons made of the tau protein. Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer's and treatment aims to temporarily slow the worsening of dementia symptoms.