Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s? ask your provider these 8 questions

The prospect of developing Alzheimer’s disease can cause people great anxiety—and especially so as they approach age 65, when risk starts to increase. In 2023, as many as 6.7 million Americans were living with Alzheimer’s disease, and nearly two-thirds of them are women.

While the brain disorder is not considered a normal part of aging, those numbers will increase as the population ages. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) projects that as many as 14 million people in the United States will have Alzheimer’s by the year 2060.

If you’re diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease—the most common type of dementia—you’ll likely experience a wide range of emotions, from sadness to anger to fear about what the future may hold. But one reaction that is quite common is relief, says Phaedra Dowell, MD, a neurologist in Overland Park, Kansas. That’s because, finally, it becomes clear why you have trouble with things like following a recipe or finding your way home after driving to the store.

In spite of the challenges, there are proactive steps you can take to help slow the progression of the disease. And by being informed, you’ll know what changes lie ahead so that you can plan for your future. Here are eight important questions to ask about what to expect after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis.