This is ALZ: Expanding How We Understand Alzheimer’s
As a nurse, I’ve seen how overwhelming it can be when people and families have to navigate complex health information. Alzheimer’s disease is no different. When many people think about Alzheimer’s, they often picture the later stages. The moments that are most visible, most difficult and often most feared.
But Alzheimer’s doesn’t begin there. It starts much earlier, often in ways that look very different from what many of us might expect.
At HealthyWomen, we believe that better health starts with more reliable information and better understanding. And when it comes to Alzheimer’s, there is still so much more to understand. As a brain disease, Alzheimer’s can progress over time, impacting how a person thinks, remembers and experiences the world around them.
However, what is not commonly understood is that for some people living with Alzheimer’s, it can take years, even decades, before cognitive impairment begins and symptoms start to significantly impact a person’s memory or daily life.
Currently, more than 7 million Americans, nearly two-thirds of whom are women, are living with Alzheimer’s disease. And while awareness is high, education about the earlier stages of Alzheimer’s remains limited, which is something we have an opportunity to change.
That’s why we are proud to launch This is ALZ, a campaign powered by HealthyWomen that raises awareness about Alzheimer’s and highlights the experiences of people living with its earlier stages.
Why understanding the earlier stages matters
For a long time, and for good reason, Alzheimer’s has been recognized through its most visible moments: the ones that come later, when the disease is hardest to ignore.
In turn, the earlier stages of Alzheimer’s are often overlooked. The symptoms experienced during the earlier stages of the disease can be much less noticeable:
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A misplaced item that feels unremarkable.
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A repeated question that’s easy to brush off.
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A fleeting sense that something is different, but not yet definable.
And sometimes a person can be cognitively unimpaired or experience no noticeable signs at all. Understanding the earlier stages of Alzheimer’s helps us see what living with the disease can look like and how knowing early is helping people live their lives with intention.
In the earlier stages of Alzheimer’s, many people are still living full, engaged lives. They are making plans, staying connected and continuing to define who they are beyond a diagnosis.
A new moment in Alzheimer’s care
We are also at a moment of real progress.
Advances in research mean that Alzheimer’s can now be identified earlier. This has opened the door to new ways of thinking about what it means to live with the disease.
An earlier diagnosis gives people more time to talk with their healthcare team and plan with greater confidence. It can also help those who are diagnosed make decisions about finances and next steps, as well as remind them that they do not have to face the disease alone.
And while every person’s journey is different, having that information sooner can help people living with the earlier stages of the disease approach what comes next with greater clarity.
The power of knowing and sharing early
This is ALZ is rooted in something simple but powerful: stories.
Our signature patient stories challenge assumptions, expand understanding and remind us that Alzheimer’s is only one part of a person’s life, not the whole story. LauraLee remains deeply connected to her friends while continuing to practice hot yoga regularly. Kerry maintains strong relationships with her family and continues to find joy in birding. Francisco “Pako” Rios has started piano and French lessons.
Together, these stories show how knowing early can empower people to have meaningful conversations, strengthen their relationships and make informed decisions that reflect what matters most to them.
Join us in seeing the full picture
This is ALZ presents an opportunity to listen, to learn and to expand how we understand the earlier stages of Alzheimer’s from those living with the disease. We are grateful to everyone who has joined us for launch, including our storytellers, partners and community members.
I encourage you to visit ThisisALZ.com to hear directly from our signature storytellers and learn more about the earlier stages of Alzheimer’s and the value of early diagnosis. Because when we see the full picture, we can support people more fully — and move the conversation forward together.