Gary Small, M.D., UCLA Center on Aging
Question: How important are patient support groups in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease?
Answer: In the early stages of Alzheimer's disease I think patient support groups can be very helpful. You can not only get emotional support from other people who are going through this devastating disease but also, you get some practical support. The doctor can help in many ways but unless that doctor has had a personal experience with the disease they may not know the everyday details that can be very important to consider when you're stricken by this disease.
So, I encourage family member to get involved in support groups, patients to get involved early on, and also relatives who are caring for these patients should get involved in their own groups.
