For most of us, Alzheimer's is associated with the elderly, but the reality is that it's not just a disease of old age. Early-onset Alzheimer's Disease (EOAD) affects people younger than age 65, occasionally much younger. According to the latest Alzheimer's Association Facts and Figures Report, of the 5.4 million Americans impacted by the disease, there are approximately 200,000 individuals with the early-onset form.
Obtaining an accurate diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer's can be very challenging. Health care professionals may overlook Alzheimer's or rule it out due to age or medical history. Symptoms are often misdiagnosed, attributed instead to stress, depression, or in the case of women, menopause.
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