Introduction: Memory plays a significant role in the daily lives of people of all ages. It allows them to recall information and remember skills learned in the past. Memory also organizes past information to help people make current and future decisions. But imagine forgetting the names of your closest family members or not having the ability to find your keys every time you want to leave the house. These are some of the difficulties that people with Alzheimer's disease face on a daily basis. Alzheimer's disease was first identified by the German neurologist Alois Alzheimer in 1906 and was found to have a predominant effect on explicit memory loss (Gruetzner, 1988). There are two types of Alzheimer's disease: early-onset and late-onset. Early onset occurs in patients who are diagnosed with the disease before the age of 65, while late onset occurs in patients who are diagnosed with the disease after the age of 65. In the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, short-term memory is often lost. As Alzheimer's disease progresses, problems with long-term memory begin to develop, in addition to short-term memory impairments. Although much is known about the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, the cause has not been definitively identified. However, as research continues, new theories are being proposed about the cause of Alzheimer's disease. This has led to controversy over whether Alzheimer's disease is caused by genetic or environmental factors (Gruetzner, 1988). Abnormal changes in the brain: Clinically, Alzheimer's disease is characterized by the accumulation of beta-amyloid plaques among living neurons in the brain (Sabbagh, 2008). This results in an excessive influx of calcium into the neurons and the breakdown of a protein called tau. Normally, the scroll... in the center of the paper... 03/22/aluminum-toxicity-alzheimers.aspx.Petersen, RC (2002). Mayo Clinic on Alzheimer's disease. Rochester, Minnesota: Mayo Clinic.Post, S.G., & Whitehouse, P.J. (1998). Genetic testing for Alzheimer's disease: ethical and clinical issues. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press.Sabbagh, MN (2008). The Alzheimer's Answer: Reduce Risks and Keep Your Brain Healthy. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. Sklar, H. L. (2013). Controversial health topic: Herpes virus causes Alzheimer's. Reader's Digest. Retrieved from http://www.rd.com/health/conditions/controversial-health-topic-the-herpes-virus-causes-alzheimers/.Tanzi, R. (2000). Unraveling the genetics of Alzheimer's disease. Archives of Neurology, 57(8), 1236.Weiner, M. A. (1989). Reduce the risk of Alzheimer's. Chelsea, MI: Scarborough House.