Brain Health Journey

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Determining what to do and care planning

Treatment Options and Clinical Trials

After receiving a diagnosis, you'll talk with your healthcare clinicians, care partner(s), and people you trust about the future, including treatment options, to develop a care plan based on your goals and what’s important to you. Care plans often entail adopting a brain-healthy lifestyle, managing symptoms, and living well. Healthy lifestyle choices — like managing medical conditions, staying active, and keeping socially and mentally engaged — may delay progression of brain health decline.

What should I do next to plan for care?

Navigating a diagnosis is challenging. You may feel fear, sadness, loss, grief, frustration, and many more emotions. Though it may be necessary to change the way you do some activities, much of your life is still within your control. You can direct the course of your care and life with your healthcare clinician(s) and care partner(s), in line with your goals, priorities, and needs.

Lean on your support system: Talk through your feelings with your care partner(s), people close to you, your healthcare clinicians, and mental health professionals. Keep making space for your emotions. If you are struggling or are in crisis, text or call 988 for the Crisis Lifeline. You should also consider connecting with:

Your local Alzheimer's Association chapter and support groups.
Others with brain health challenges and similar diagnoses through memory cafes.
A social worker identified through local government or health resources who can help you find and navigate additional resources, such as assistance with housing.

Keep your brain healthy: Preserve your brain health and continue living well by keeping your mind engaged, staying connected socially, exercising, eating healthy, and so on. Check out the National Institute on Aging's resources to support your brain health and the Alzheimer's Association's Guide to Living Well for those with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's or another dementia.
Make any necessary changes to daily life: Depending on the seriousness of your diagnosis, you may need to take extra precautions with daily activities and, in some cases, stop or limit some activities. These might include:

Living alone
Cooking with the oven and stovetop
Driving a car
Traveling alone
Independently managing your finances

Develop a care plan: With a care partner, develop a care plan that summarizes your health conditions, medications, and treatments. Review this plan regularly with your care partner(s) and your clinician(s) and make updates as you continue to navigate care and treatment options. Check out this template from the CDC and more guidance around the important elements of care planning.

Continue following up on your care: Continue attending follow-up appointments with your clinicians—your PCP and specialists. Ask if any of your clinicians participate in the GUIDE (Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience) Model, a Medicare program that coordinates resources for patients and care partners and helps people stay in their homes and communities as long as possible.

Explore treatment options with your clinicians: There are several potential treatments for MCI or dementia due to Alzheimer's disease. Discuss the available options with your clinicians to determine what may be right for you. These options include:

FDA-approved monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) / amyloid-targeting therapies (ATTs) that aim to slow disease progression
FDA-approved oral medications such as cholinesterase inhibitors, if appropriate, and/or memantine
Clinical trials: Innovative research designed to find new ways to treat the disease
Alternative treatments: Non-medical treatments with varying evidence
Lifestyle modifications: Adjustments people can make at any time to improve and preserve brain health, such as healthy eating and exercise

Bottom line: Navigating a diagnosis is challenging. It's crucial to think about the future and how you'd like to live well with this disease, explore treatment options, continue following up on your care, and, together with your care partner(s) and clinicians, develop a care plan based on your preferences.

How can I begin planning for the future around finances and health?

What are the treatment options for someone at this stage? What's the right treatment option for me?

I’m interested in looking into clinical trials. Where can I start? What questions should I ask?

I'm not sure about doing medication or treatment. What if I don't want to?

What are some resources for care partners helping me navigate this journey?

The information provided on this website is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional medical judgment. Consult a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding Alzheimer's disease, related conditions, or any medical condition.

Brain Health Journey

Determining what to do and care planning

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