&NA;Alzheimer's disease is a dementing illness characterized by progressive memory impairment and difficulty in at least two other cognitive domains. A major advance in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) occurred in the early 1990s with the FDA approval of tacrine, an acetylcholinesterase (AchE) inhibitor. Over the past 5 years, newer AchE inhibitors have been released for the symptomatic treatment of AD. In addition, growing numbers of people with AD are turning to non‐FDA‐approved alternative medicines such as vitamin E and Ginkgo biloba for treatment. Double‐blind, placebo‐controlled studies have established the efficacy of cholinesterase inhibitors in the treatment of AD. Vitamin E and selegiline were assessed in one large randomized trial and were shown to slow the progression of AD to major milestones. Evidence for the efficacy of other compounds is less robust. Strategies for the possible prevention and reversal of symptoms are on the horizon.