Alzheimer's: Genetic Dementia Alzheimer's, the disease of the degeneration of the brain, was identified in 1907 by German physician Alois Alzheimer. Four million Americans suffer from the disease which deprives the victim of the ability to remember, think, reason, and eventually coordinate movement. This most common form of dementia is caused physically by the gradual change in nerve cells, which leads to the destruction of brain cells. Studies find that this fourth leading cause of death affects more women than men, and more Hispanics and African-Americans than Caucasians. The disease can be present in two forms; early onset Alzheim