How to explain Alzheimer’s to children?

Use simple, age-appropriate language to describe Alzheimer’s as a brain disease that causes gradual memory and thinking changes; explain symptoms little by little and reassure the child it is not the grandparent’s fault.

What symptoms of Alzheimer’s should children know?

Introduce memory loss, confusion, language and reasoning difficulties, personality changes, and trouble recognizing relatives; explain that later stages may affect dressing, hygiene and spatial skills.

Can Alzheimer’s be cured or treated?

There is no cure that reverses symptoms, but medications, therapies and structured activities can delay progression and improve quality of life, especially in early and moderate stages.

How can children spend time with a grandparent with Alzheimer’s?

Suggest simple, shared activities like watering plants, doing puzzles or looking at photos; affectionate, familiar interactions help maintain connection and support the grandparent’s wellbeing.

How to handle a child's guilt when grandpa forgets them?

Explain clearly that the disease causes forgetting and it is not the child’s fault; encourage expressing feelings, offer reassurance, and maintain consistent visits and support.

Are there child-friendly resources about Alzheimer’s?

Yes. For example, the comic 'Alzheimer: What’s wrong with Grandpa?' (aimed at ages 10–16) portrays a boy’s experience and helps explain symptoms and ways to help.

How to explain what Alzheimer’s is to young children

It is undeniable that explaining what Alzheimer’s is to children is not an easy task. The child may not understand why his grandfather, who used to take care of him, who used to pick him up from school or who used to give him a snack, right now can no longer do those things. Therefore, the first thing to do would be to explain to the child what is happening to grandpa using language appropriate for his age.

Tips for explaining what Alzheimer’s is to children

Below we offer a series of tips to explain what Alzheimer’s is to young children.

What is Alzheimer’s?

“Grandpa (or Grandma) has Alzheimer’s, which is a disease that makes the brain gradually forget things.” But it is not only a disease that causes memory loss, and the child must go on understanding all the symptoms little by little.

Symptoms that children should become familiar with

The onset of this dementia is slow, initially affecting the parts of the brain responsible for memory, thinking and language.

Over time, these symptoms worsen to the point that people with Alzheimer’s disease stop recognizing their closest relatives, including their grandchildren. At that point it is most likely that children will become sad, so it is important to explain to them that it is not their grandpa’s fault, but the disease that makes him forget.

There may also come a time when grandpa forgets how to dress or wash himself and you should explain to them that he needs help.

In addition to the characteristic memory problems, patients with Alzheimer’s disease may present other symptoms such as impairment in reasoning ability, aphasia, apraxia, loss of spatial ability and changes in the person’s character.

Will Grandpa be cured of Alzheimer’s?

Also, the child may ask other questions that are common throughout the course of the disease such as how to prevent it?, what is the treatment?, can grandpa be cured? or will grandpa die from Alzheimer’s?

You should explain to children that there is no treatment that can reverse the symptoms of the disease. However, it is good to tell them that there are medications and activities for people with Alzheimer’s that delay the progression of the disease, especially in early and moderate stages.

Spending time with Grandpa

“That Grandpa has Alzheimer’s doesn’t mean he can’t spend time with you.” Specialists insist that affection and spending time with loved ones helps people with this neurodegenerative disease. Watering the plants or doing a puzzle are daily activities that grandchild and grandfather can do together.

Comic to explain what Alzheimer’s is to children

With the aim of helping children learn to live with Alzheimer’s we recommend the comic Alzheimer: What’s wrong with Grandpa?, aimed at children and adolescents between 10 and 16 years old.

The comic, written by Merce8 Boada, neurologist and director of the Fundación ACE, Instituto Catalán de Neurociencias Aplicadas, tells the story of Ramf3n, a grandfather who begins to have the first symptoms of the disease and of his grandson, Julio, who will live with him for a few days during the summer season.

Through the 18 pages that make it up, the 13-year-old boy discovers that his grandfather is disoriented, forgetful and different. It is then that he tries to find out what Alzheimer’s is and looks for a way to help him.