Alzheimer's Disease Decoded : The History, Pres... May 2026

Dr. Alois Alzheimer identified the disease after studying Auguste Deter , a 51-year-old woman with memory loss and hallucinations. An autopsy revealed the now-classic hallmarks: amyloid plaques and tau tangles .

For decades, it was considered a rare "presenile" condition. This changed when neurologist Robert Katzman asserted it was the most common form of dementia and a leading cause of death. Alzheimer's disease decoded : the history, pres...

Researchers identified beta-amyloid in 1984 and tau protein in 1986. The first gene associated with the disease (APP) was found on chromosome 21 in 1987. The Present: A Turning Point in Treatment History of Alzheimer's Disease - PMC Alzheimer's disease decoded : the history, pres...