When My Child Has Alzheimer’s Disease

Article type: Short Communication

Authors: Franklin, Gustavo L.^{a; *} | Meira, Alex T.^b | Barbosa, Maira Tonidandel^{c; d} | Teive, Hélio A.G.^e | Caramelli, Paulo^c

Affiliations: [a] Departamento de Clínica Médica, Escola de Medicina da Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Curitiba (PR), Brazil | [b] Departamento de Medicina Interna, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa (PB), Brazil | [c] Departamento de Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte (MG), Brazil | [d] Faculdade Ciências Médicas de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte (MG), Brazil | [e] Universidade Federal do Paraná, Serviço de Neurologia, Departamento de Medicina Interna, Curitiba (PR), Brazil

Correspondence: [*] Correspondence to: Gustavo L. Franklin, MD, PhD, Rua General Carneiro 1103/102, Centro, Curitiba, PR, 80060-150, Brazil. E-mail: [email protected].

Abstract: The significant increment in life expectancy, associated to the existence of high-performing older adults, and the appropriate diagnosis of early dementias, lead to an uncommon scenario, of healthy parents accompanying their children with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia to medical consultations. Here, we reported three peculiar clinical vignettes of patients diagnosed with a dementia, who were accompanied by healthy parents. This is a modern situation that tends to become more frequent, and must be properly discussed, since multidisciplinary care and specific training are necessary.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, diagnosis, early-onset dementia, management

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-215234

Journal: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 85, no. 1, pp. 55-58, 2022