How to Pronounce Alzheimer's Disease

Say it like this: ALTS-hy-merz dih-ZEEZ. The first part rhymes with 'lots' and 'cuts,' the second part sounds like 'high,' and the last word sounds like 'disease' (the sickness). The stress falls on the first syllable: ALTS.

Break it into these parts: Alz-hy-mer's dis-ease. That's five syllables total. The first word (Alzheimer's) has three syllables, and the second word (disease) has two.

Stress the FIRST syllable: ALTS-hy-merz. A common mistake is putting the stress on the second syllable (alts-HY-merz), but that's incorrect. Remember: ALTS is where the emphasis goes.

It's a medical condition affecting the brain that is named after the doctor who first described it. You'll often hear people shorten it to just 'Alzheimer's' in everyday conversation. It's one of the most common types of dementia, which means problems with memory and thinking.

The short form is AD, pronounced as two letters: 'A-D.' Doctors and nurses often use this abbreviation in medical writing and conversations to save time.

It's named after Alois Alzheimer, a German doctor who first identified and described this brain condition in the early 1900s. In medicine, diseases are often named after the doctor or scientist who discovered them.

Many people say 'Alz-HIGH-mers' (stressing the second syllable) or 'Alzzy-mers,' but the correct way is 'ALTS-hy-merz' with the stress on the first syllable. Listen carefully to the first part—it should sound like 'alts,' not 'alz' with a long 'z' sound.

Here's an example: 'My grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease five years ago.' Or simply: 'She has Alzheimer's.' Both are correct ways to use the term in everyday conversation.

Not really—'Alzheimer's disease' is pretty unique! You might hear people say just 'Alzheimer's' (without the word disease) as a shorter form. There's also the abbreviation AD, but these are just shortened versions of the same word, not related medical terms.