This page is intended to provide information for patients and their families, making use of links to the website of the Alzheimer’s Association.

Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a serious brain disorder that is unfortunately quite common. We estimate that about 5 million Americans currently have Alzheimer’s disease. Although symptoms vary considerably from person to person, the first problem experienced by many people is forgetfulness, which worsens over time. As the disease progresses, other symptoms inevitably appear, including disorientation to date and place, difficulty with organizing and planning, trouble with expressing and comprehending language, getting lost in familiar places, and changes in behavior and personality. For more information about symptoms and warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease, please visit the following link.

“Dementia” is a general term for a loss of memory and other cognitive abilities serious enough to impair daily functioning. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. For more information about other causes of dementia, please see the following link.

There is presently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. However, there are a number of treatments for the symptoms of the disease as well as services and support that can make like much better for people afflicted with the disease and their families. The Yale ADRU is participating in the worldwide effort to find better ways to treat the disease, delay its onset, or prevent it from developing (Clinical trials page).
           
For more information about Alzheimer’s disease, please visit the website of the Alzheimer’s Association.

 

Caring for Alzheimer's

Caring for a person with Alzheimer’s disease is not an easy task. But by learning caregiving skills, finding appropriate resources and services, and getting enough emotional support for yourself, you can ensure that your loved one is living a full life. Taking steps to preserve your own well-being is a vital part of this process. Many caregivers find that a support group is very helpful:

Yale ADRU Caregiver Support Group.

The Yale ADRU offers a free Caregiver Support Group that meets monthly on the first Tuesday of the month at 1:15 PM.

For more information, contact Theresa Hofmeister at
203-764-8100 or theresa.hofmeister@yale.edu.

If our group is inconvenient for you, you can find a list of other support groups in CT at this link.