June is Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month®, and the Alzheimer’s Association Illinois Chapter is encouraging families to talk about memory concerns sooner. New findings from an Alzheimer’s Association survey found a majority of Americans would be concerned about offending a family member (76 percent), or ruining their relationship (69 percent) if they were to approach that person about observed signs of Alzheimer’s. To help people understand early symptoms of Alzheimer’s or behaviors that merit discussion, the Alzheimer’s Association offers the 10 Early Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer’s. The Alzheimer’s Association also offers Six Tips for Approaching Alzheimer’s, a list of best practices for talking about the disease with someone who may be experiencing these symptoms. The six tips include:

• Have the conversation as early as possible

• Think about who’s best suited to have the conversation

• Practice conversation starters

• Offer support and companionship

• Anticipate gaps in self-awareness

• Recognize the conversation may not go as planned

To learn more about the early signs, visit www.alz.org/illinois