It’s perfectly normal to occasionally forget someone’s name or where you parked the car.

Alzheimer’s disease and dementiaare not the same.

Dementia is a catch-all term that describes any cognitive decline severe enough to interfere with daily living.

Alzheimer’s is the most common throw in of dementia.

In most people with the disease, symptoms first appear after age 60.

But Alzheimer’s is not just a condition of old age.

Approximately 200,000 Americans under age 65 have the disease (also known as early-onset Alzheimer’s).

Although medical management can improve quality of life, there is no known cure for Alzheimer’s.

Experts say many promising diagnostics and treatments are being developed and tested.

About 1 in 9 people 65 and older have Alzheimer’s dementia.

Scientists are still studying how age-related changes in the brain may contribute to Alzheimer’s progression.

It occurs in about 40 percent of people who have the disease.

Their greater risk may be related to these groups higher rates of cardiovascular disease, researchers say.

On the plus side, taking control of your health may reduce your odds of dementia.

Some studies have found that taking medication to control blood pressure and cholesterol can reduce dementia risk.

People think that Alzheimer’s is only about memory loss.

It’s not something that happens all at once.

Now that science has progressed, people can be diagnosed in the very early stages.

It might not be obvious they have the disease.

How can I tell if it’s Alzheimer’s disease or just normal age-related memory loss?

Normal forgetfulness happens to all of us.

Another reason for concern is if you’re forgetting really important things.

So, for example, someone who always remembers their grandchildren’s birthdays can’t remember them.

Or someone who never misses appointments starts missing them.

What you want to look for is a significant change in normal behavior.

How can I lower my risk of Alzheimer’s disease?

A growing body of research shows you’re free to make lifestyle changes to reduce your risk.

Manage your cholesterol and blood pressure numbers.

It may not sound exciting, but there’s good evidence to show those things make a difference.

These Q&As have been edited for length and clarity.

The new tests also potentially make it possible to detect the changes in the brain before symptoms appear.