Alzheimer disease is a degenerative disease of the brain that causes dementia, which is a gradual loss of memory, judgment, and ability to function. This disorder usually appears in people older than age 65, but less common forms of the disease appear earlier in adulthood.
Memory loss is the most common sign of Alzheimer disease. Forgetfulness may be subtle at first, but the loss of memory worsens over time until it interferes with most aspects of daily living. Even in familiar settings, a person with Alzheimer disease may get lost or become confused. Routine tasks such as preparing meals, doing laundry, and performing other household chores can be challenging. Additionally, it may become difficult to recognize people and name objects. Affected people increasingly require help with dressing, eating, and personal care.
As the disorder progresses, some people with Alzheimer disease experience personality and behavioral changes and have trouble interacting in a socially appropriate manner. Other common symptoms include agitation, restlessness, withdrawal, and loss of language skills. People with this disease usually require total care during the advanced stages of the disease.
Affected individuals usually survive 8 to 10 years after the appearance of symptoms, but the course of the disease can range from 1 to 25 years. Survival is usually shorter in individuals diagnosed after age 80 than in those diagnosed at a younger age. Death usually results from pneumonia, malnutrition, or general body wasting (inanition).
Alzheimer disease can be classified as early-onset or late-onset. The signs and symptoms of the early-onset form appear between a person's thirties and mid-sixties, while the late-onset form appears during or after a person's mid-sixties. The early-onset form is much less common than the late-onset form, accounting for less than 10 percent of all cases of Alzheimer disease.
", "role": "description" } ], "synonyms": [ "AD", "Alzheimer dementia (AD)", "Alzheimer sclerosis", "Alzheimer syndrome", "Alzheimer's disease", "Alzheimer-type dementia (ATD)", "DAT", "Familial Alzheimer disease (FAD)" ], "published": "2023-03-23", "relatedGenes": [ { "url": "https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/gene/app", "symbol": "APP" }, { "url": "https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/gene/apoe", "symbol": "APOE" }, { "url": "https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/gene/psen1", "symbol": "PSEN1" }, { "url": "https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/gene/psen2", "symbol": "PSEN2" } ], "crossReferences": [ { "db": "GTR", "key": "C0002395" }, { "db": "GTR", "key": "C1843013" }, { "db": "GTR", "key": "C1847200" }, { "db": "GTR", "key": "C1863051" }, { "db": "ICD-10-CM", "key": "G30" }, { "db": "ICD-10-CM", "key": "G30.0" }, { "db": "ICD-10-CM", "key": "G30.1" }, { "db": "ICD-10-CM", "key": "G30.8" } ], "inheritancePatterns": [ { "code": "u", "description": "Pattern unknown" }, { "code": "ad", "description": "Autosomal dominant" } ] } ``` --- ### Genetics Gene MedlinePlus Genetics — one gene summary from the download bundle, rung 1 (direct). The .json extension and the application/json content-type both lie here: the body is an XML - **Method:** `GET` - **Endpoint:** `https://api.zpi.web.id/v1/health:medlineplus/genetics-gene` - **Cache TTL:** 300s **Parameters:** | Name | Type | Location | Required | Description | |------|------|----------|----------|-------------| | `symbol` | string | query | yes | Official gene symbol as used by MedlinePlus Genetics | **cURL:** ```bash curl "https://api.zpi.web.id/v1/health:medlineplus/genetics-gene?symbol=BRCA1" \ -H "x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY" ``` **JavaScript / TypeScript:** ```javascript const res = await fetch("https://api.zpi.web.id/v1/health:medlineplus/genetics-gene?symbol=BRCA1", { headers: { "x-api-key": process.env.ZAPI_KEY } }); const data = await res.json(); ``` **Python:** ```python import requests r = requests.get("https://api.zpi.web.id/v1/health:medlineplus/genetics-gene?symbol=BRCA1", headers={"x-api-key": "YOUR_API_KEY"}) data = r.json() ``` **Example response:** ```json { "url": "https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/gene/brca1", "name": "BRCA1 DNA repair associated", "geneId": "21728", "symbol": "BRCA1", "provider": "medlineplus", "reviewed": "2015-09", "sections": [ { "html": "The BRCA1 gene provides instructions for making a protein that acts as a tumor suppressor. Tumor suppressor proteins help prevent cells from growing and dividing too rapidly or in an uncontrolled way.
The BRCA1 protein is involved in repairing damaged DNA. In the nucleus of many types of normal cells, the BRCA1 protein interacts with several other proteins to mend breaks in DNA. These breaks can be caused by natural and medical radiation or other environmental exposures, and they also occur when chromosomes exchange genetic material in preparation for cell division. By helping to repair DNA, the BRCA1 protein plays a critical role in maintaining the stability of a cell's genetic information.
Research suggests that the BRCA1 protein also regulates the activity of other genes and plays an essential role in embryonic development. To carry out these functions, the BRCA1 protein interacts with many other proteins, including other tumor suppressors and proteins that regulate cell division.
", "role": "function" } ], "synonyms": [ "BRCA1 gene", "BRCA1_HUMAN", "BRCC1", "breast cancer 1", "breast cancer 1 gene", "breast cancer 1, early onset", "breast cancer 1, early onset gene", "breast cancer type 1 susceptibility gene" ], "published": "2025-04-03", "crossReferences": [ { "db": "NCBI Gene", "key": "672" }, { "db": "OMIM", "key": "113705" } ], "relatedConditions": [ { "url": "https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/breast-cancer", "name": "Breast cancer" }, { "url": "https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/fanconi-anemia", "name": "Fanconi anemia" }, { "url": "https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/prostate-cancer", "name": "Prostate cancer" }, { "url": "https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/ovarian-cancer", "name": "Ovarian cancer" }, { "url": "https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/cholangiocarcinoma", "name": "Cholangiocarcinoma" } ] } ``` --- ### Lookup MedlinePlus Connect — consumer health pages for a clinical code, rung 1 (direct). Atom feed rendered as JSON: every scalar arrives wrapped in `._value`, and omitting - **Method:** `GET` - **Endpoint:** `https://api.zpi.web.id/v1/health:medlineplus/lookup` - **Cache TTL:** 300s **Parameters:** | Name | Type | Location | Required | Description | |------|------|----------|----------|-------------| | `codeSystem` | enum(icd10cm|icd9cm|snomed|rxcui|ndc|loinc|cpt) | query | yes | Clinical vocabulary the code belongs to | | `code` | string | query | yes | Code to look up inside the chosen vocabulary | | `language` | enum(en|es) | query | no | Language of the returned pages. Default en | **cURL:** ```bash curl "https://api.zpi.web.id/v1/health:medlineplus/lookup?codeSystem=icd10cm&code=E11.9&language=en" \ -H "x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY" ``` **JavaScript / TypeScript:** ```javascript const res = await fetch("https://api.zpi.web.id/v1/health:medlineplus/lookup?codeSystem=icd10cm&code=E11.9&language=en", { headers: { "x-api-key": process.env.ZAPI_KEY } }); const data = await res.json(); ``` **Python:** ```python import requests r = requests.get("https://api.zpi.web.id/v1/health:medlineplus/lookup?codeSystem=icd10cm&code=E11.9&language=en", headers={"x-api-key": "YOUR_API_KEY"}) data = r.json() ``` **Example response:** ```json { "code": "E11.9", "count": 3, "items": [ { "id": "tag: medlineplus.gov, 2026-30-08:/diabetestype2.html?utm_source=mplusconnect&utm_medium=application", "url": "https://medlineplus.gov/diabetestype2.html?utm_source=mplusconnect&utm_medium=service", "links": [ { "rel": "alternate", "url": "https://medlineplus.gov/diabetestype2.html?utm_source=mplusconnect&utm_medium=service" } ], "title": "Diabetes Type 2", "summary": "Type 2 diabetes is a disease in which your blood glucose, or blood sugar, levels are too high. Glucose is your main source of energy. It comes from the foods you eat. A hormone called insulin helps the glucose get into your cells to give them energy. If you have diabetes, your body doesn't make enough insulin or doesn't use insulin well. The glucose then stays in your blood and not enough goes into your cells.
\n\nOver time, having too much glucose in your blood can cause health problems. But you can take steps to manage your diabetes and try to prevent these health problems.
\n\nType 2 diabetes may be caused by a combination of factors:
Type 2 diabetes usually starts with insulin resistance. This is a condition in which your cells don't respond normally to insulin. As a result, your body needs more insulin to help the glucose enter your cells. At first, your body makes more insulin to try to get cells to respond. But over time, your body can't make enough insulin, and your blood glucose levels rise.
\n\nYou are at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes if you:
Many people with type 2 diabetes have no symptoms at all. If you do have them, the symptoms develop slowly over several years. They might be so mild that you do not notice them. The symptoms can include:
Your provider will use blood tests to diagnose type 2 diabetes. The blood tests include:
Treatment for type 2 diabetes involves managing your blood glucose levels. Many people are able to do this by living a healthy lifestyle. Some people may also need to take medicine:
\nYou can take steps to help prevent or delay type 2 diabetes by losing weight if you are overweight, eating fewer calories, and being more physically active. If you have a condition which raises your risk for type 2 diabetes, managing that condition may lower your risk of getting type 2 diabetes.
\n\nNIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
", "updatedAt": "2026-08-30T00:46:12Z", "summaryType": "html" }, { "id": "tag: medlineplus.gov, 2026-30-08:/genetics/condition/type-2-diabetes?utm_source=mplusconnect&utm_medium=application", "url": "https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/type-2-diabetes?utm_source=mplusconnect&utm_medium=service", "links": [ { "rel": "alternate", "url": "https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/type-2-diabetes?utm_source=mplusconnect&utm_medium=service" } ], "title": "Type 2 diabetes", "summary": "Type 2 diabetes is a disorder characterized by abnormally high levels of blood glucose, also called blood sugar. In this form of diabetes, the body stops using and making insulin properly. Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas that helps regulate blood glucose levels. Specifically, insulin controls how much glucose (a type of sugar) is passed from the blood into cells, where it is used as an energy source. When blood glucose levels are high (such as after a meal), the pancreas releases insulin to move the excess glucose into cells, which reduces the amount of glucose in the blood.
Most people who develop type 2 diabetes first have insulin resistance, a condition in which the body's cells use insulin less efficiently than normal. As insulin resistance develops, more and more insulin is needed to keep blood glucose levels in the normal range. To keep up with the increasing need, insulin-producing cells in the pancreas (called beta cells) make larger amounts of insulin. Over time, the beta cells become less able to respond to blood glucose changes, leading to an insulin shortage that prevents the body from reducing blood glucose levels effectively. Most people have some insulin resistance as they age, but inadequate exercise and excessive weight gain make it worse, greatly increasing the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes can occur at any age, but it most commonly begins in middle age or later. Signs and symptoms develop slowly over years. They include frequent urination (polyuria), excessive thirst (polydipsia), fatigue, blurred vision, tingling or loss of feeling in the hands and feet (diabetic neuropathy), sores that do not heal well, and weight loss. If blood glucose levels are not controlled through medication or diet, type 2 diabetes can cause long-lasting (chronic) health problems including heart disease and stroke; nerve damage; and damage to the kidneys, eyes, and other parts of the body.
", "updatedAt": "2026-08-30T00:46:12Z", "summaryType": "html" }, { "id": "tag: www.niddk.nih.gov, 2026-30-08:/health-information/diabetes/overview/what-is-diabetes/type-2-diabetes?utm_medium=ehr+service&utm_source=medlineplus+connect", "url": "https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/what-is-diabetes/type-2-diabetes?utm_medium=ehr+service&utm_source=medlineplus+connect", "links": [ { "rel": "alternate", "url": "https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/what-is-diabetes/type-2-diabetes?utm_medium=ehr+service&utm_source=medlineplus+connect" } ], "title": "Type 2 Diabetes", "summary": "Learn about the symptoms of type 2 diabetes, what causes the disease, how it’s diagnosed, and steps you can take to help prevent or delay type 2 diabetes.", "updatedAt": "2026-08-30T00:46:12Z", "summaryType": "html" } ], "title": "MedlinePlus Connect", "author": { "url": "https://www.nlm.nih.gov", "name": "U.S. National Library of Medicine" }, "matched": { "code": "E11.9", "system": "ICD10CM" }, "language": "en", "provider": "medlineplus", "subtitle": "MedlinePlus Connect results for ICD-10-CM E11.9", "updatedAt": "2026-08-30T00:46:12Z", "codeSystem": "icd10cm" } ``` --- ### Search Topics MedlinePlus health-topic search (NLM wsearch) — rung 1 (direct). The response is XML whose content is HTML-entity-escaped, and what decodes out of it still carries highlight wrappers; an unknown db answers 200 with an - **Method:** `GET` - **Endpoint:** `https://api.zpi.web.id/v1/health:medlineplus/search-topics` - **Cache TTL:** 300s **Parameters:** | Name | Type | Location | Required | Description | |------|------|----------|----------|-------------| | `term` | string | query | yes | Search terms matched against MedlinePlus health topics | | `language` | enum(en|es) | query | no | Topic collection to search. Default en | | `page` | number | query | no | Page number. Default 1 | | `limit` | number | query | no | Items per page. Default 10, max 100 | | `detail` | enum(brief|topic|all) | query | no | Amount of content per topic. Default brief | **cURL:** ```bash curl "https://api.zpi.web.id/v1/health:medlineplus/search-topics?term=asthma&language=en&page=1&limit=10&detail=brief" \ -H "x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY" ``` **JavaScript / TypeScript:** ```javascript const res = await fetch("https://api.zpi.web.id/v1/health:medlineplus/search-topics?term=asthma&language=en&page=1&limit=10&detail=brief", { headers: { "x-api-key": process.env.ZAPI_KEY } }); const data = await res.json(); ``` **Python:** ```python import requests r = requests.get("https://api.zpi.web.id/v1/health:medlineplus/search-topics?term=asthma&language=en&page=1&limit=10&detail=brief", headers={"x-api-key": "YOUR_API_KEY"}) data = r.json() ``` **Example response:** ```json { "page": 1, "term": "asthma", "count": 3, "items": [ { "url": "https://medlineplus.gov/asthma.html", "rank": 1, "title": "Asthma", "groups": [ "Lungs and Breathing", "Immune System" ], "snippet": "What is asthma? Asthma is a chronic (long-term) lung disease. It affects your airways, the tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs. When you have ...", "summary": "What is asthma? Asthma is a chronic (long-term) lung disease. It affects your airways, the tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs. When you have asthma, your airways can become inflamed and narrowed. This can cause wheezing, coughing, and tightness in your chest. When these symptoms get worse than usual, it is called an asthma attack or flare-up. What causes asthma? The exact cause of asthma is unknown. Genetics and your environment likely play a role in who gets asthma. An asthma attack can happen when you are exposed to an asthma trigger. An asthma trigger is something that can set off or worsen your asthma symptoms. Different triggers can cause different types of asthma: Allergic asthma is caused by allergens. Allergens are substances that cause an allergic reaction. They can include Dust mites Mold Pets Pollen from grass, trees, and weeds Waste from pests such as cockroaches and mice Nonallergic asthma is caused by triggers that are not allergens, such as Breathing in cold air Certain medicines Household chemicals Infections such as colds and the flu Outdoor air pollution Tobacco smoke Occupational asthma is caused by breathing in chemicals or industrial dusts at work Exercise-induced asthma happens during physical exercise, especially when the air is dry Asthma triggers may be different for each person and can change over time. Who is at risk for asthma? Asthma affects people of all ages, but it often starts during childhood. Certain factors can raise your risk of having asthma: Being exposed to secondhand smoke when your mother is pregnant with you or when you are a small child Being exposed to certain substances at work, such as chemical irritants or industrial dusts Genetics and family history. You are more likely to have asthma if one of your parents has it, especially if it's your mother. Race or ethnicity. Black and African Americans and Puerto Ricans are at higher risk of asthma than people of other races or ethnicities. Having other diseases or conditions such as obesity and allergies Often having viral respiratory infections as a young child Sex. In children, asthma is more common in boys. In teens and adults, it is more common in women. What are the symptoms of asthma? The symptoms of asthma include: Chest tightness Coughing, especially at night or early morning Shortness of breath Wheezing, which causes a whistling sound when you breathe out These symptoms can range from mild to severe. You may have them every day or only once in a while. When you are having an asthma attack, your symptoms get much worse. The attacks may come on gradually or suddenly. Sometimes they can be life-threatening. They are more common in people who have severe asthma. If you are having asthma attacks, you may need a change in your treatment. How is asthma diagnosed? Your health care provider may use many tools to diagnose asthma: Physical exam Medical history Lung function tests, including spirometry, to test how well your lungs work Tests to measure how your airways react to specific exposures. During this test, you inhale different concentrations of allergens or medicines that may tighten the muscles in your airways. Spirometry is done before and after the test. Peak expiratory flow (PEF) tests to measure how fast you can blow air out using maximum effort Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) tests to measure levels of nitric oxide in your breath when you breathe out. High levels of nitric oxide may mean that your lungs are inflamed. Allergy skin or blood tests, if you have a history of allergies. These tests check which allergens cause a reaction from your immune system. What are the treatments for asthma? If you have asthma, you will work with your health care provider to create a treatment plan. The plan will include ways to manage your asthma symptoms and prevent asthma attacks. It will include: Strategies to avoid triggers. For example, if tobacco smoke is a trigger for you, you should not smoke or allow other people to smoke in your home or car. Short-term relief medicines, also called quick-relief medicines. They help prevent symptoms or relieve symptoms during an asthma attack. They include an inhaler to carry with you all the time. It may also include other types of medicines which work quickly to help open your airways. Control medicines. You take them every day to help prevent symptoms. They work by reducing airway inflammation and preventing narrowing of the airways. If you have a severe attack and the short-term relief medicines do not work, you will need emergency care. Your provider may adjust your treatment until asthma symptoms are controlled. Sometimes asthma is severe and cannot be controlled with other treatments. If you are an adult with uncontrolled asthma, in some cases your provider might suggest bronchial thermoplasty. This is a procedure that uses heat to shrink the smooth muscle in the lungs. Shrinking the muscle reduces your airway's ability to tighten and allows you to breathe more easily. The procedure has some risks, so it's important to discuss them with your provider.", "altTitles": [ "Bronchial Asthma" ], "meshTerms": [ "Asthma" ], "organizationName": "National Library of Medicine" }, { "url": "https://medlineplus.gov/asthmainchildren.html", "rank": 0, "title": "Asthma in Children", "groups": [ "Children and Teenagers", "Lungs and Breathing", "Immune System" ], "snippet": "What is asthma? Asthma is a chronic (long-term) lung disease. It affects your airways, the tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs. When you have ...", "summary": "What is asthma? Asthma is a chronic (long-term) lung disease. It affects your airways, the tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs. When you have asthma, your airways can become inflamed and narrowed. This can cause wheezing, coughing, and tightness in your chest. When these symptoms get worse than usual, it is called an asthma attack or flare-up. How does asthma affect children? Asthma often starts during childhood, usually before age 5. Many children have asthma - it is the most common chronic disease of childhood. It can cause children to miss school and end up in the hospital. But treatments can help manage asthma. What causes asthma in children? The exact cause of asthma is unknown. Genetics and environment likely play a role in which children get asthma. An asthma attack can happen when your child is exposed to an asthma trigger. An asthma trigger is something that can set off or worsen asthma symptoms. Different triggers can cause different types of asthma: Allergic asthma is caused by allergens. Allergens are substances that cause an allergic reaction. They can include Dust mites Mold Pets Pollen from grass, trees, and weeds Waste from pests such as cockroaches and mice Nonallergic asthma is caused by triggers that are not allergens, such as Breathing in cold air Certain medicines Household chemicals Infections such as colds and the flu Outdoor air pollution Tobacco smoke Exercise-induced asthma happens during physical exercise, especially when the air is dry Asthma triggers may be different for each child and can change over time. Which children are at risk for asthma? Certain factors raise the risk of asthma in children: Being exposed to secondhand smoke when their mother is pregnant with them or when they are small children Genetics and family history. Children are more likely to have asthma if one of their parents has it, especially if it's the mother. Race or ethnicity. Black and African Americans and Puerto Ricans are at higher risk of asthma than people of other races or ethnicities. Having other diseases or conditions such as obesity and allergies Often having viral respiratory infections as young children Sex. In children, asthma is more common in boys. In teens, it is more common in girls. What are the symptoms of asthma in children? The symptoms of asthma in children include: Chest tightness Coughing, especially at night or early morning Breathing problems, such as shortness of breath, rapid breathing, or gasping for air Feeling tired Dark circles under the eyes Being irritable Wheezing, which causes a whistling sound when they breathe out Trouble eating or sucking (in infants) These symptoms can range from mild to severe. They may happen often or only once in a while. When children have an asthma attack, their symptoms get much worse. The attacks may come on gradually or suddenly. Sometimes they can be life-threatening. Warning signs of a severe attack include severe coughing, serious breathing problems, and turning very pale or blue in the face, lips and/or fingernails. If your child has those symptoms, get medical help right away. How is asthma in children diagnosed? It can be hard to diagnose asthma in children, especially if they are young. Asthma has similar symptoms as other childhood conditions. And some children may not have asthma symptoms very often, so it may seem like they are having respiratory infections instead. Your child's health care provider may use many tools to diagnose asthma: Physical exam Medical history Chest x-ray Lung function tests, including spirometry, to test how well the lungs work. Younger children are usually not able to do these tests. Allergy skin or blood tests, if you have a history of allergies. These tests check which allergens cause a reaction from your immune system. If you have a young child who cannot do lung function tests, the provider may suggest doing a trial of asthma medicines. The trial involves giving your child the medicines for several weeks to see whether the symptoms get better. What are the treatments for asthma in children? If your child has asthma, you will work with their health care provider to create a treatment plan. The plan will include ways to manage your child's asthma symptoms and prevent asthma attacks, such as: Strategies to avoid triggers. For example, if tobacco smoke is a trigger for your child, you should not allow anyone to smoke in your home or car. Short-term relief medicines, also called quick-relief medicines. They help prevent symptoms or relieve symptoms during an asthma attack. They include an inhaler to have for your child at all times. It may also include other types of medicines which work quickly to help open your child's airways. Control medicines. They work by reducing airway inflammation and preventing narrowing of the airways. Not all children will take control medicines. Whether or not your child needs them depends on how severe the asthma is and how often your child has symptoms. If your child has a severe attack and the short-term relief medicines do not work, get medical help right away. Your child's provider may adjust the treatment until the asthma symptoms are controlled.", "altTitles": [ "Childhood Asthma", "Pediatric asthma" ], "meshTerms": [ "Asthma" ], "organizationName": "National Library of Medicine" }, { "url": "https://medlineplus.gov/allergy.html", "rank": 2, "title": "Allergy", "groups": [ "Ear, Nose and Throat", "Immune System" ], "snippet": "An allergy is a reaction by your immune system to something that does not bother most other people. People who have allergies often are sensitive to more ...", "summary": "An allergy is a reaction by your immune system to something that does not bother most other people. People who have allergies often are sensitive to more than one thing. Substances that often cause reactions are: Pollen Dust mites Mold spores Pet dander Food Insect stings Medicines Normally, your immune system fights germs. It is your body's defense system. In most allergic reactions, however, it is responding to a false alarm. Genes and the environment probably both play a role. Allergies can cause a variety of symptoms such as a runny nose, sneezing, itching, rashes, swelling, or asthma. Allergies can range from minor to severe. Anaphylaxis is a severe reaction that can be life-threatening. Doctors use skin and blood tests to diagnose allergies. Treatments include medicines, allergy shots, and avoiding the substances that cause the reactions.", "altTitles": [ "Allergic Rhinitis", "Hypersensitivity" ], "meshTerms": [ "Hypersensitivity" ], "organizationName": "National Library of Medicine" } ], "limit": 3, "total": 55, "hasMore": true, "language": "en", "nextPage": 2, "provider": "medlineplus" } ``` --- _Generated: 2026-08-30T05:06:38.286Z_