Alzheimerova demencija je progresivna bolest koja se najčešće javlja kod osoba starije životne dobi. Zbog produljenja životnog vijeka i starenja stanovništva od Alzheimerove bolesti obolijeva sve više osoba svake godine. Alzheimerova bolest je progresivna i neizlječiva bolest, a jedan je od njenih glavnih simptoma je gubitak pamćenja. U ovom preglednom radu prikazat ćemo što je to Alzheimerova bolest, koji su stadiji bolesti, ulogu socijalnih radnika u radu s oboljelim osobama s obzirom na stadije bolesti, etiologiju i čimbenike rizika te liječenje Alzheimerove bolesti. Prikazat ćemo i situaciju u Hrvatskoj i svijetu. Naglasak ćemo staviti na ulogu socijalnih radnika i obitelj, koja je, uz same oboljele, najviše pogođena bolešću.

Alzheimer's dementia is a progressive disease most commonly occurring in older people. Due to the prolonged life expectancy and the aging of population, there are more and more people diagnosed with Alzheimerˈs dementia every year. It is a progressive and incurable disease and one of the characteristic symptom is memory loss. In this review we will show what is Alzheimer's dementia, what are the stages of the disease, what is the role of social workers in dealing with people with Alzheimer's disease according to the stage of the disease, etiology, risk factors and the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. We will also explain and describe the situation in Croatia and the world. Emphasis will be on the role of social workers and families who are, together with the patients, the people most affected by the illness.