Who is affected by Alzheimer's Disease?

AD occurs most frequently in people aged 65 years and older. Therefore, as the population continues to get older around the world, the number of people with AD is expected to increase. A small percentage of people with AD develop the disease at an early age i.e., between 35 and 60 years of age. This so-called early-onset AD is believed to be inherited since cases tend to cluster within certain families. Still, the majority of people who suffer from AD (95%) develop the disorder later in life, and this type of AD is not directly inherited.

AD occurs in all ethnic groups and social classes, as well as in both men and women, although it is slightly more common in women.