Meet an advocate whose compassionate action is changing lives

In her early 60s, Carol Moore began having trouble articulating her thoughts and found it difficult to keep up with changing technology at work. “I just figured I was getting old,” she said.
But in 2012, she was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment, a decline in memory and thinking skills that increases a person’s risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease. The news was devastating, and Carol turned to the Alzheimer’s Association for help. “The Association is a wonderful resource,” she said. “Because of their programs and services, my whole outlook on life changed.”

When Carol found the Alzheimer’s Association, she discovered helpful information and support services as well as some stunning statistics, including that African-Americans develop Alzheimer’s disease at a far higher rate than other populations. She decided to do what she could to share the facts and help others, and she became a member of the Alzheimer’s Association National Early-Stage Advisory Group.
Deeply moved by the fact that today, more than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, Carol talks with people who’ve been recently diagnosed, and speaks to groups and the media to shine a light on this cruel and fatal disease.
Join Carol, won’t you? Your gift today of $25, $50 or even $100 will help us continue to raise awareness of this escalating global crisis and provide vital resources to all those affected by Alzheimer’s disease.
We’re grateful for your commitment to this fight. Please be as generous as you can!

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In honor of our founder – Alzheimer’s
I write to you today to share some sad news. On January 1, the Alzheimer’s Association lost our founder and friend, Mr. Jerome H. Stone. He was 101 years old. Mr. Stone was not only a longtime board member, volunteer and advocate, but also a philanthropist who led by example and believed deeply in giving to transform our cause.
Mr. Stone was a true visionary in the Alzheimer’s movement. When his wife, Evelyn, was diagnosed with the disease in 1970, he recognized the need for an organization that would unite caregivers, provide support to those facing Alzheimer’s and advance research into the disease. His drive and determination led to the creation of the Alzheimer’s Association in 1979.
In no small way, Mr. Stone is responsible for where we are today in the fight against Alzheimer’s. He took a disease that was largely cloaked in silence and helped to create a national — and global — conversation. He gave those affected by the disease an outlet to take action and create change.
To honor Mr. Stone and continue his legacy, we must press forward to achieve our vision of a world without Alzheimer’s disease. If you would like to share any personal expressions of gratitude with Mr. Stone’s family, please visit our online tribute page.

Jerome H. Stone

Founding President and Honorary Chair of the Alzheimer’s Association
1913 – 2015

The Alzheimer’s Association has lost our Founding President and Honorary Chair, Jerome H. Stone. He was not only a longtime board member, volunteer and advocate, but also a philanthropist who led by example and believed deeply in giving to transform our cause.

Mr. Stone was a true visionary in the Alzheimer’s movement. When his wife, Evelyn, was diagnosed with the disease in 1970, he recognized the need for a leader in the field that would unite caregivers, provide support to those facing Alzheimer’s, and advance research toward treatment, prevention and, ultimately, a cure. His drive and determination led to the creation of the Alzheimer’s Association in 1979.

Mr. Stone is responsible for where we are today in the fight against Alzheimer’s. He took a disease that was cloaked in silence and helped to create a national — and global — conversation. He meant so much to the many who are invested in this cause. We honor his memory and continue his legacy by moving forward to achieve our vision of a world without Alzheimer’s.

Read the Alzheimer’s Association statement

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Ask your doctor the right questions about your Alzheimer’s diagnosis

If you’ve received an Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis, it’s normal to be unsure of what questions to ask your doctor. You may need time to absorb the information and understand what it means for you and your family. Use the opportunity to ask your doctor questions about your diagnosis and your options.

Just Diagnosed

Receiving a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s is never easy — it’s life changing. It is normal to experience a range of emotions. Acknowledging your feelings can be an empowering first step in coping with the challenges ahead.

• Emotions you may have
• Take care of emotional needs
• You are not alone
• Questions for your doctor

Emotions you may have

You noticed symptoms. You made a doctor’s appointment. You took tests. And you felt a roller coaster of emotions — fear, hope, despair, denial. Then you received a diagnosis. You may have felt numb, unsure of how to respond or where to turn.

You also may be grieving over the present losses you are experiencing, or the expectation of future changes as the disease progresses. It can be helpful to identify and understand some of the emotions you may experience after receiving your diagnosis.

These emotions may include:

• Anger. Your life is taking a different course than the one you and your family had planned. You cannot control the course of the disease.
• Relief. The changes you were experiencing were cause for concern. A diagnosis validated these concerns by assigning a name to your symptoms.
• Denial. The diagnosis seems impossible to believe. You may feel overwhelmed by how your life will change as a result of Alzheimer’s.
• Depression. You may feel sad or hopeless about the way your life is changing.
• Resentment. You may be asking yourself what you did to deserve your diagnosis or why this is happening to you and not someone else.
• Fear. You may be fearful of the future and how your family will be affected.
• Isolation. You may feel as if no one understands what you’re going through or lose interest in maintaining relationships with others.
• Sense of loss. It may be difficult to accept changes in your abilities.

If these feelings linger week after week, you may be dealing with depression or anxiety. Feeling depressed or anxious about your diagnosis is common, but both can be successfully treated.
> Learn more about symptoms of depression

Taking care of your emotional needs

Coming to terms with your diagnosis and the emotions you are feeling will help you accept your diagnosis, move forward, and discover new ways to live a positive and fulfilling life.

You are the only person who can change how you feel about your diagnosis. So it’s important to find healthy ways to deal with your emotions. This can be difficult at the beginning. But once you make the commitment to take care of your emotional needs, you may find that you can rise to the challenge and face your diagnosis. This is a new phase of your life, and you can choose to experience it with sense of connection to your emotional health.

When working through your feelings, try a combination of approaches. The following tips may be helpful:

• Write down your thoughts and feelings about your diagnosis in a journal.
• You may find your friends and family struggling with your diagnosis and their feelings. Learn more about how you can help family and friends.
• Share your feelings with close family and friends. Speak open and honestly about your feelings.
• Surround yourself with a good support system that includes individuals who are also living in the early stage of the disease and understand what you’re going through. Join our message boards or learn more about support programs.
• Join an early-stage support group. It can provide you with a safe and supportive environment of peers. To find a support group in your area, check with your local Alzheimer’s Association chapter.
• Talk to your doctor if you or others are concerned about your emotional well-being. Your doctor can determine the most appropriate treatment plan to address your concerns.
• Seek help from a counselor or clergy member. He or she can help you to see things in a new way and help you understand more fully what you are feeling.
• If you are feeling misunderstood or stereotyped because of your diagnosis, learn what you can do to overcome stigma.
• Stay engaged. Continue to do the activities you enjoy for as long as you are able.
• Take the time you need to feel sad, mourn and grieve.

You are not alone

A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease can leave you feeling disconnected, isolated or abandoned from others. You may feel unsure of where to turn and that no one can possibly understand what you’re going through. People living with early-stage Alzheimer’s have stated that one of the most important lessons they learned early on in their diagnosis is this: they could not just wait for others to help them – they had to go out and help themselves to the best of their ability.

Whenever facing difficult times, having a good support network you can turn to for advice and encouragement may help you feel socially connected and give you a sense of belonging and purpose. Make sure your network includes other people who are living in the early stage of the disease. Connecting with others like you may help put your own experiences living with the disease in perspective, and provide you with the support and encouragement necessary to move beyond your diagnosis.
> Learn more about support programs
> Connect with others like you on our message boards

Questions for your doctor

After receiving your diagnosis, it’s normal to leave your doctor’s office unsure of what questions to ask. You just received life-changing news, and you need time to absorb this information and understand what it means for you and your family.

Your doctor is an important member of your care team. Use the opportunity to ask your doctor questions about your diagnosis, all the available options, and the benefits and risks of each choice you make.

You may be asking: “How do I know what to ask my doctor?”

Members of our Alzheimer’s Association National Early-Stage Advisory Group have shared their own experiences and questions they wish they had asked their doctors. You may find this information helpful as you develop your own list of questions.

Download these questions and others as a PDF

Example questions:

The diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease

1. What test(s) or tools did you use to determine my diagnosis?
2. What are you measuring with the tests you performed?

Alzheimer’s disease

1. How will the disease progress?
2. What can I expect in the future?

Treatments

1. What treatment options are available?
2. Which symptoms are being targeting by each medication?

Clinical trials

1. What clinical trials are available?
2. Where can I find published information about clinical treatment studies?

Care team

1. How familiar are you with Alzheimer’s disease? Will you be managing my care going forward?
2. If I need to be hospitalized, will you be able to provide care in this setting?

Care and support

1. What resources are available to help me learn more about my diagnosis? My family?
2. What support services are available to help me live well with the disease, for as long as possible?

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“Still Alice” explores living with younger-onset Alzheimer’s disease

“Still Alice,” which features an award-winning performance by actress Julianne Moore, isn’t the first movie to address Alzheimer’s. But the film is poised to attract attention because Alice, a baby boomer, isn’t elderly when she develops the disease. Approximately 200,000 Americans have younger-onset Alzheimer’s.

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13 opportunities to learn during February

If you are curious about memory loss, look at Know the 10 Signs or The Basics. If you need specific knowledge or just something to make your life easier, try Caregiver Stress or Conversations About Dementia. No matter where you are in the journey we have a program that will help.

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