Alzheimer's DementiaAlzheimer's dementia is one of the most common and well-known forms of dementia. It's a progressive attack on the brain. There is no cure for dementia. Alzheimer's disease is usually associated with older people. Thanks to new technologies, disease can be predicted years before symptoms appear. Genetic testing is one of the new technologies used to diagnose Alzheimer's disease. Since this disease has no cure, genetic counseling is required before testing, at the time test results are reviewed, and afterward if the person tests positive for genes associated with this disease. General information Alzheimer's dementia was officially discovered in 1907 by a researcher. researcher named Alois Alzheimer. She had a patient in whom memory loss and other brain problems deteriorated rapidly, leading to death shortly thereafter (Castellani, Rolston, & Smith, 2010). Alzheimer's dementia affects people over the age of 65. This disease occurs in a small percentage of individuals under the age of 65. The literature varies as to the percentage. According to Jorde, Carey, and Bamshad (2014), 3-5% of people diagnosed before age 65 are most likely to have inherited the dominant Alzheimer's dementia gene(s). Unfortunately, it is difficult to diagnose this disease. Doctors typically order numerous tests on individuals to rule out a number of disease processes before diagnosing Alzheimer's disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control (2013), Alzheimer's dementia is the sixth leading cause of death based on 2010 data. It is definitively diagnosed at the time of death. As previously stated, Alzheimer's dementia is a progressive disorder of the brain. The images below are images of a healthy brain, a brain with advanced Alzheimer's... middle of article...... Castellani, RJ, Rolston, RK, & Smith, MA (2010 ). Alzheimer's disease. Retrieved from www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2941917/Goldman, JS, Hahn, SE, Catania, JW, LaRusse-Eckert, S., Butson, MB, Rumbaugh, M. ... Bird, T. (2011). Genetic counseling and testing for Alzheimer's disease: joint practice guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and the National Society of Genetic Counselors. Retrieved from www.ncbinlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3326653/Jorde, LB, Carey, JC, and Bamshad, MJ (2014). Medical Genetics (4th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Mosby Elsevier. National Institute on Aging. (2012). http://www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers/publication/alzheimers-disease-fact-sheetSchutte, D.L. (2013). Genetic testing and Alzheimer's disease: implications for psychiatric and mental health nursing. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing, 51(11), 14-18.