Alzheimer’s affects kids and teens who know adults with the disease

When a friend or family member has Alzheimer’s disease, kids and teens may feel upset, confused or scared. The Alzheimer’s Association has resources to help them learn about Alzheimer’s and understand how it affects them. It’s important for them to know they’re not alone.

Introduction

When a friend or family member has Alzheimer’s disease, you may feel upset, confused or scared. Alzheimer’s can be puzzling because a person who has it often doesn’t look sick.

Some people with early stage Alzheimer’s may forget words or not remember your name sometimes. Otherwise you may not notice too many changes. But, when you spend time with people with later stage Alzheimer’s, it is easy to see that something serious is going on. Some people with Alzheimer’s may cry, become angry very easily or behave in ways that embarrass you. Sometimes the person may not remember who you are, even if it is someone like a grandparent who knows you very well.

People with Alzheimer’s disease are not acting like this because they don’t care about you anymore. Changes deep inside their brains are destroying the centers that control remembering, thinking and feeling. They are losing their ability to make sense out of the world.

This page provides resources to help you learn about Alzheimer’s disease and understand how it affects you. It’s important to know that you are not alone. Alzheimer’s changes the lives of everyone it touches.

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New Videos for Kids

Kids Look at Alzheimer’s Disease
Does someone in your family have Alzheimer’s disease?  Spend a few moments watching the videos below to learn about the disease and how kids like you are dealing with it. 

Part 1: What Is Alzheimer’s Disease?
Maybe someone you know has Alzheimer’s disease but you don’t even know what it is! Watch this video to get the facts.

Part 2: What Can I Expect and How Can I Deal With It?
You may wonder about what the changes are that will come because of Alzheimer’s disease. Will things be different for you or your family? Watch this video to learn how you can keep talking and having fun with the person with Alzheimer’s.

Part 3: Is it Me or Is It the Disease?
Does it seem like the person you know with Alzheimer’s is changing? You’re right! Watch this video to find out more about those changes and how to talk about them with friends and family.

Part 4: How Can I Help and What’s Out There to Help Me?
There are lots of ways for kids to make a difference in the lives of those with Alzheimer’s disease and their families. Watch this video to find out what you can do to help.

New Videos for Teens

Teens Look at Alzheimer’s Disease
If you are on this site, you probably know someone – or know of someone – with Alzheimer’s. Take a look at the videos below to learn about the disease and hear about how other teens are coping with it.

Part 1: What Is Alzheimer’s Disease?
Confused about the symptoms of Alzheimer’s and how it differs from dementia? Want to know more about the progression of the disease? Watch this video to get the facts.

Part 2: What Can I Expect and How Can I Deal With It?
You may have a family member with Alzheimer’s disease and wonder what the changes that come with the disease will mean for you and your family. Watch this video to learn how to make communication and connection with someone with Alzheimer’s disease easier for everyone.

Part 3: If the Person with Alzheimer’s Lives with Us, What Can I Expect?
It may seem like the person with Alzheimer’s is changing in ways that make your relationship different, but why? The answer is almost always that the disease is responsible for the changes, and keeping that in mind will allow you to cope with the situation more easily. Watch this video to learn more, and to explore making some changes of your own.

Part 4: How Can I Help and What’s Out There to Help Me?
There are lots of ways for people your age to make a difference in the lives of those with Alzheimer’s disease and their families. Start by talking openly about it and informing your peers. Watch this video to find out how you can help move us toward a world without Alzheimer’s.

Purple Week Project
Purple Week for Alzheimer’s
Watch the video and see what three young girls can do with an idea about teaching kids about Alzheimer’s disease and raising money for the cause. “Go Purple Week!!”

The Process and Working with Student Council
Julie’s three young daughters developed a “Purple Week” project with their school. Watch the video to get more information about the project and what it provided to the children and teachers.

How Alzheimer’s disease affects the brain

• Your Brain: More Powerful than a Wizard, More Complex than a Computer
  Do you like Harry Potter? This article explores how your extraordinary brain power helps you read, understand and remember. It also explains how Alzheimer’s disease damages the brain.

• Brain Tour
  What happens in the brain of a person with Alzheimer’s disease? This interactive tour explains how the brain works and how Alzheimer’s affects it.

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Resources

For parents and teachers

Resources for Parents and Teachers (2 pages)
This document provides additional resources to help kids and teens understand and cope with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

After a Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s: Gee’s Story
Gee’s father has Alzheimer’s disease. Watch Gee talk about helping her children deal with her father’s disease.