Final answer:
Alzheimer's disease is not an inevitable part of aging, and not everyone will get it. It is associated with specific brain changes and has been linked to genetic factors, although not all cases are genetic.
Step-by-step explanation:
Alzheimer's disease is not a normal part of aging, and it is false to claim that everyone will eventually have it. While it is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly, only about one in every eight people age 65 or older has the disease. Moreover, by 2050, the number of Americans suffering from Alzheimer's disease is expected to rise, partially due to the aging baby-boomer generation. Alzheimer's was named after Alois Alzheimer, and it is characterized by significant brain changes, including amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. The progression of Alzheimer's can be mild, moderate, or severe, and it is categorized into three main stages. Studies of the genetics of Alzheimer's, such as the discovery of the five new genes in 2011, have improved understanding of the disease and may eventually lead to a cure.