Helping families facing Alzheimer's disease, Vascular Dementia, Lewy Body, FTD, and others through education, research, and life enrichment. Provide We believe all of us are capable, at some level, to sense and respond, even until the very end of our lives. The richness of life doesn’t end when someone is diagnosed with any form of Dementia. The Dementia Society of America works with care facilities to plan and provide programs that enhance the lives of those living with Dementia, bringing a perspective to the situation that celebrates the uniqueness of every individual. Our Ginny Gives Grants program offer variety and provides ways for people to connect through art, music, dance, touch, and more. Please let us know how we can help by calling 1-800-DEMENTIA (1-800-336-3684) to learn more. For those living with Dementia, their caregivers, and the public at-large, the Dementia Society of America (DSA) seeks to underwrite a varity of types of quality-of-life programs in nursing homes, continuing care residential communities, and wherever else desired in the Dementia community. DONATE Music. It reaches people... deeply. When many other ways of reaching people have been exhausted, most any music, and especially recognized or beloved music, can still trigger connections within us. The Dementia Society of America believes that every person with Dementia, every caregiver, every human being, should be given the opportunity to enjoy music and song. Our programs do just that. Whether it's 8 people gathered around a harpist, or 80 being serenaded by a violinist, barbershop quartet, or jazz ensemble, DSA leads the way in its variety of enjoyable programs. Learn more about Dementia and music at NAMM Foundation . Art. To experience art, interact, and discuss its meaning (as one is able), can create a particularly unique environment in which to connect. It can be a small facilitated group assembled to relate to familiar, or unfamiliar, artistic creations in the comfort of one's residence. It might be a museum visit or traveling art exhibition, that simply allows for the energy of art expression to be shared. DSA provides a diverse selection of subject matter and environments. Touch/Senses. Those living with Dementia often feel separate and removed. To touch and be touched, to have your handheld, your feet massaged, and your shoulders rubbed in a gentle and meaningful way, can create a sense of calm. Maybe it's the way velvet or silk feels, or cinnamon or vanilla smell... stimulating the senses can provide feelings of security. DSA encourages thoughtful and appropriate touch and sensory stimulation programs to reconnect with the humanness of people. Dance. Movement with, and without others interacting, can be a powerful force that crosses over into many other beneficial therapies, such as music, art, and touch. Appropriately managed, with safety being a number one priority, dance programs produce increased blood flow, and enhance stability and balance. Always facilitated to avoid physical discomfort, activities even as simple as swaying to the beat, can increase the mental and physical senses of well-being and security. We can also work with approved Program Partners (talent agencies typically- that specialize in senior programs) to select, manage and place performers, session leaders, therapists, and others in appropriate settings to the maximum benefit of all. We are constantly seeking new Program Partners and communities, in cities and towns across America. Please contact us to learn more. To put on a program and get started right away, click here: Ginny Gives Grants . Go back to Programs | Click Here

Request your free guide to get your questions answered related to Dementia. This information pack will help you take some of the fear out of Dementia. 1-800-DEMENTIA® ( 1-800-336-3684) Request Your Free Guide, "The Big Umbrella," in the Form Below First and Last Name Email Mobile Phone* Street Address City State ZIP Code How Did You Find Us? * Required TV Radio Reddit Taxi Ad Facebook Other (ENTER BELOW) Other: By clicking send you will receive our occasional eNewsletter. You can easily unsubscribe at any time. Send Your details were sent successfully! DONATE ONLINE

Posterior cortical atrophy (PCA), also called Benson's syndrome, is the visual variant of Alzheimer’s disease. Posterior Cortical Atrophy "Posterior cortical atrophy (PCA), also called Benson's syndrome, is the visual variant of Alzheimer’s disease. The disease causes shrinkage (atrophy) of the back part of the brain, causing a progressive decline in vision. People with PCA may often go to see an eye doctor first, thinking that their difficulties are due to a problem with their eyes and that they may need new glasses. Visual impairment commonly develops as people get older, and in most cases a decline in vision is due to this natural aging process. In people with PCA, the visual problems are not due to problems with their eyes. Rather, the shrinking brain can no longer interpret and process the information received from the person's healthy eyes. In the vast majority of PCA cases, the underlying cause is Alzheimer's disease , and the brain tissue at autopsy shows an abnormal accumulation of the proteins amyloid and tau that form plaques and tangles as is seen in Alzheimer's. Although PCA is almost always caused by Alzheimer's disease, it can also be due to other diseases including Dementia with Lewy bodies and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. PCA is thought to affect less than 5% of people with Alzheimer's disease, although epidemiological studies are lacking and PCA has been under-recognized in the past." Source: click here . Click below on the various terms to learn more about both common and more rare conditions, syndromes and diseases, that can cause, or include symptoms leading to Dementia: Dementia-Like Conditions (that may be reversible); Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI); Alzheimer's Disease (AD or ALZ) Dementia; Mixed Dementia; Vascular Dementia; Young Onset Dementia; Lewy Body Dementia (LBD); Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD); AIDS Dementia Complex (ADC); Huntington's Disease with Dementia; Multiple Sclerosis (MS) with Dementia; Parkinson's Disease (PD) with Dementia; Chronic Traumatic Brain Injury (CTE) Dementia; Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) with Dementia; Down Syndrome with Dementia; Posterior Cortical Atrophy (PCA); Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA); Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome (WKS) Dementia; Limbic-predominant Age-related TDP-43 Encephalopathy (LATE);*** Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) Dementia; Corticobasal Degeneration (CBD); Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP); CADASIL;*** Sanfilippo Syndrome*** Batten Disease (Childhood Dementia);*** Binswanger Disease.*** Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy (CAA)*** Various Childhood Dementias*** Adult-Onset Leukoencephalopathy*** Don't see what you're looking for? Please contact us. *** Takes you to a non-DSA website. Go back to Definitions | Click Here

​Attend our public workshops for educational learning experiences with factual, easy-to-understand concepts, and accessible information. Visit our website. Public Workshops Two educational learning experiences with factual, easy-to-understand concepts, and accessible information. DONATE Click image to watch & learn more. Click image to learn more. Go back to Education | Click Here

Helping families facing Alzheimer's disease, Vascular Dementia, Lewy Body, FTD, MCI, and more through education, research, and life enrichment. Dementia Society of America DONATE NOW REQUEST FREE GUIDE

Where does one get the truth about Alzheimer’s Disease and other forms of Dementia? Right here. We have collected definitions we believe will be helpful to you. Definitions Important Notice: Dementia Society of America (DSA) does not provide medical advice. The contents are for informational purposes only and are not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Anchor 1 Where does one get the truth about Alzheimer’s Disease and other forms of Dementia? Right here. We have collected definitions we believe will be helpful to you. We also offer a variety of presentations and programs to help people living with these conditions and their families and caregivers. You don’t have to make this journey alone. We can help. Access additional Dementia resources here. 1:40 Minutes 4:00 Minutes DEFINITIONS A broad factual definition of Dementia from the U.S. Government: "Dementia is not a specific disease. It is a descriptive term for a collection of symptoms that can be caused by a number of disorders that affect the brain. People with dementia have significantly impaired intellectual functioning that interferes with normal activities and relationships. They also lose their ability to solve problems and maintain emotional control, and they may experience personality changes and behavioral problems, such as agitation, delusions, and hallucinations. While memory loss is a common symptom of dementia, memory loss by itself does not mean that a person has dementia. Doctors diagnose dementia only if two or more brain functions - such as memory and language skills -- are significantly impaired without loss of consciousness. Some of the diseases that can cause symptoms of dementia are Alzheimer’s disease (AD), vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, Huntington’s disease, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Doctors have identified other conditions that can cause dementia or dementia-like symptoms including reactions to medications, metabolic problems and endocrine abnormalities, nutritional deficiencies, infections, poisoning, brain tumors, anoxia, or hypoxia (conditions in which the brain’s oxygen supply is either reduced or cut off entirely), and heart and lung problems. Although it is common in very elderly individuals, dementia is not a normal part of the aging process"* Moreover, recent studies have found that newer brain scans may point to other causes of Dementia in approximately one-third of presumed AD cases, thereby helping avoid an Alzheimer’s disease misdiagnosis, which may lead to better treatment and care.** A fundamental concept to grasp is that the symptoms of Dementia often go beyond memory loss. They can include significant shifts in mood, more falls, disturbed gait (how we walk), and more. In addition, hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia are not uncommon. *Sources- 2015, United States National Institutes of Health: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Additional Sources- Read updated information from NIH; click here . Mayo Clinic has an excellent brief definition; click here . The National Institute on Aging maintains an excellent site; click here . World Health Organization, click here . **Source- 2019, click here. Click below on the various terms to learn more about both common and more rare conditions, syndromes and diseases, that can cause, or include symptoms leading to Dementia: Dementia-Like Conditions (that may be reversible); Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI); Alzheimer's Disease (AD or ALZ) Dementia; Mixed Dementia; Vascular Dementia; Young Onset Dementia; Lewy Body Dementia (LBD); Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD); AIDS Dementia Complex (ADC); Huntington's Disease with Dementia; Multiple Sclerosis (MS) with Dementia; Parkinson's Disease (PD) with Dementia; Chronic Traumatic Brain Injury (CTE) Dementia; Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) with Dementia; Down Syndrome with Dementia; Posterior Cortical Atrophy (PCA); Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA); Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome (WKS) Dementia; Limbic-predominant Age-related TDP-43 Encephalopathy (LATE);*** Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) Dementia; Corticobasal Degeneration (CBD); Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP); CADASIL;*** Sanfilippo Syndrome*** Batten Disease (Childhood Dementia);*** Binswanger Disease.*** Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy (CAA)*** Various Childhood Dementias*** Adult-Onset Leukoencephalopathy*** Don't see what you're looking for? Please contact us. *** Takes you to a non-DSA website. Go back to Education | Click Here

A leading volunteer-driven organization raising nationwide awareness for all causes of Dementia, including Alzheimer's (AD), Vascular Dementia, and more. Who Are We? Our all-volunteer Board of Directors and Advisory Council members use the power of technology and virtual offices to help us make a real-world difference. Dementia Society of America® proudly serves individuals and families across the country who are facing the challenges of over two hundred Dementia-related disorders. Through vital resources, educational outreach, groundbreaking research, and critical programs for caregivers and those diagnosed, we strive to bring hope, understanding, and meaningful support to every community. The Dementia Society encourages life-enrichment achievements through its Ginny Gives® Awards Program, which focuses on music and singing, dance and movement, the visual arts, touch, and sensory stimulation. The Dementia CARER®, Dementia SMART®, and Dementia QUEST® Programs recognize those who serve the Dementia community through meaningful care, innovation, and research, respectively. Lastly, the Society often provides the first significant infusion of funding for certain early-stage seed investments in advanced research centered on the causes of and interventions for Dementia, as well as overall brain health-related science. See the Scientific Review Committee members here . LEADERSHIP, ADVISORY COUNCIL, ADVOCATES & SUPPORT TEAM Members Kevin Jameson Salaried CEO | Volunteer Board Member & Chairman | View Bio → Jeff Moyers CFP Volunteer | Board Member & Treasurer | View Bio → Michael Fossel MD PhD Volunteer | Advisory Council, Medical | View Bio → Lauren Schwabish MS CCC-SLP Volunteer, Advisory Council, Speech Pathology | View Bio → Arun Rao MD Volunteer | Advisory Council, Geriatric Medicine | View Bio → Ann Redfield RN MSN Volunteer | Programs | Executive Vice President Emeritus | View Bio → Lilly Roth Volunteer | Board Member & Secretary | View Bio → Michael Trayford DACNB Volunteer | Advisory Council, Medical | View Bio → Minjung Shim PhD BC-BMT Volunteer | Advisory Council, Movement Therapy | View Bio → Kimberly Dolan MT-BC Volunteer | Advisory Council, Music Therapy | View Bio → Blaine Greenfield Volunteer | Board Member, Sr VP & Compliance Officer | View Bio → Vanessa Adams Volunteer | Board Member & Caregiver Advocate | View Bio → Rachel Wiley MS OTR L CDP Volunteer | Advisory Council, Occupational Therapy | View Bio → Samir Patel MD Volunteer | Advisory Council, Geriatric Psychiatry | View Bio → Gary Kozick LCSW Volunteer | Advisory Council - Care Management | View Bio → SUPPORT TEAM Carly McElroy Employee | Operations | View Bio → Jeannine Forrest PhD RN Independent Contractor | Care Coach | View Bio → Robin Kaufold Employee | Programs | View Bio → Tami Anastasia MA Independent Contractor | Care Coach | View Bio → Jean Whaley PhD Volunteer | Programs | View Bio → We thank our past Volunteer Board & Advisory Council Members... Barbara Marte Nathan Schulhof Jeff Dershin Eric Hopkins Tony Martin Gary Howard NREMT Sandra DeHaven Natalie Kaye Hayley Francis Cann BMT H Branch Coslett MD Thomas Atkins Partial list of our Partners and Sponsors; please click here . Partial list of our Press Releases; please click here . Access our completed 2024 IRS Form W-9 (version) here . Access our IRS determination letter; please click here . To access our sales tax exemption certificate, please click here . Download our current bylaws here . Our NAICS Code #813212: Voluntary Health Organization IRS 990s: 2013 ; 2014 ; 2015 ; 2016 ; 2017 ; 2018 ; 2019 ; 2020 ; 2021 ; 2022; 2023; 2024 ; 2025 ; 2026; 2027; 2028; 2029; 2030

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Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) is a form of cognitive impairment that involves a progressive loss of language function. Primary Progressive Aphasia "Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is a form of cognitive impairment that involves a progressive loss of language function. Language is a uniquely human faculty that allows us to communicate with each other through the use of words. Our language functions include speaking, understanding what others are saying, repeating things we have heard, naming common objects, reading, and writing. “Aphasia” is a general term used to refer to deficits in language functions. PPA is caused by degeneration in the parts of the brain that are responsible for speech and language. PPA begins very gradually and initially is experienced as difficulty thinking of common words while speaking or writing. PPA progressively worsens to the point where verbal communication by any means is very difficult. The ability to understand what others are saying or what is being read also declines. In the early stages, memory, reasoning, and visual perception are not affected by the disease and so individuals with PPA are able to function normally in many routine daily living activities despite the aphasia. However, as the illness progresses, other mental abilities also decline. Adults of any age can develop PPA, but it is more common in people under the age of 65. People with PPA can have a variety of different language symptoms and no two cases are exactly the same." Source: click here . Additional subtype information: click here . To download an Aphasia caregiver guide, please click here . Click below on the various terms to learn more about both common and more rare conditions, syndromes and diseases, that can cause, or include symptoms leading to Dementia: Dementia-Like Conditions (that may be reversible); Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI); Alzheimer's Disease (AD or ALZ) Dementia; Mixed Dementia; Vascular Dementia; Young Onset Dementia; Lewy Body Dementia (LBD); Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD); AIDS Dementia Complex (ADC); Huntington's Disease with Dementia; Multiple Sclerosis (MS) with Dementia; Parkinson's Disease (PD) with Dementia; Chronic Traumatic Brain Injury (CTE) Dementia; Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) with Dementia; Down Syndrome with Dementia; Posterior Cortical Atrophy (PCA); Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA); Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome (WKS) Dementia; Limbic-predominant Age-related TDP-43 Encephalopathy (LATE);*** Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) Dementia; Corticobasal Degeneration (CBD); Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP); CADASIL;*** Sanfilippo Syndrome*** Batten Disease (Childhood Dementia);*** Binswanger Disease.*** Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy (CAA)*** Various Childhood Dementias*** Adult-Onset Leukoencephalopathy*** Don't see what you're looking for? Please contact us. *** Takes you to a non-DSA website. Go back to Definitions | Click Here

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) arises from the immune system attacking nerve cells. Learn about diseases that can cause, or include symptoms leading to Dementia. Multiple Sclerosis "Conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS) that arise from the body's immune system attacking nerve cells" Additional complications can include "mental [status] changes, such as forgetfulness [Dementia-like] or mood swings." Source1: click here . Read more: click here. Read additional info : click here . Click below on the various terms to learn more about both common and more rare conditions, syndromes and diseases, that can cause, or include symptoms leading to Dementia: Dementia-Like Conditions (that may be reversible); Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI); Alzheimer's Disease (AD or ALZ) Dementia; Mixed Dementia; Vascular Dementia; Young Onset Dementia; Lewy Body Dementia (LBD); Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD); AIDS Dementia Complex (ADC); Huntington's Disease with Dementia; Multiple Sclerosis (MS) with Dementia; Parkinson's Disease (PD) with Dementia; Chronic Traumatic Brain Injury (CTE) Dementia; Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) with Dementia; Down Syndrome with Dementia; Posterior Cortical Atrophy (PCA); Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA); Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome (WKS) Dementia; Limbic-predominant Age-related TDP-43 Encephalopathy (LATE);*** Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) Dementia; Corticobasal Degeneration (CBD); Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP); CADASIL;*** Sanfilippo Syndrome*** Batten Disease (Childhood Dementia);*** Binswanger Disease.*** Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy (CAA)*** Various Childhood Dementias*** Adult-Onset Leukoencephalopathy*** Don't see what you're looking for? Please contact us. *** Takes you to a non-DSA website. Go back to Definitions | Click Here

Request Complementary Dementia Society Aware Share Cards. Lewy Body, Alzheimer's, MCI, Vascular Dementia, Frontotemporal. Aware & Share Card Request Cards Please click here to complete our Contact form and provide us with the request in the Optional Message section to receive two complimentary cards. These are durable cards; the same card can be used again & again. Help us maintain our ability to share the love; please limit your request to 2 cards each time. Bulk order? Would you like to distribute cards to others? We do request a donation to help defray the costs. FRONT OF CARD BACK OF CARD

The Dementia Society of America is seeking to better understand the meaningfulness of cannabis, CBD, and THC for those living with Dementia. If you are interested in working with us, contact us today! Cannabis Medical Marijuana & Mushrooms The Dementia Society of America is seeking to understand better the meaningfulness of cannabis, CBD, THC, aka medical marijuana, and mushrooms (psychedelics) as it relates to symptom management and intervention for those living with various forms of Dementia. In the meantime, here are a few additional perspectives to review and consider. Thank you. U.K. Alzheimer's Society Comments CNN Feature Story CNBC Feature Story Canadian Coalition for Seniors Insight into U.S. Patent #663057 UPenn - Can Psychedelics Help Patients with Dementia?