Caring for young patients with Alzheimer's disease or associated disorders in day care centers of the Rhone-Alpes region

Context: The prevalence of Alzheimer's disease and associated disorders (ADAD) increases with aging but patients younger than 65 years may also be concerned. Objective: To assess how ADAD young patients (less than 65 years old) were managed in day care centers in the Rhone-Alpes Region (France). Method: A questionnaire was sent to the day care centers to specify the number and the profile of young patients they took in care, and to assess their aptitude for accepting or not such patients. Results: Forty-four day care centers had fulfilled the questionnaire (45%). The young patients displayed heterogeneous clinical presentations and types of coping. Only 29.5% of the day care centers received young ADAD patients. However most of them (78.6%) claimed to be ready to accept these patients even if they reported limitations for their activity. Conclusion: This study gives a fair idea of the present taking in care for young ADAD patients by day units in Rhone-Alpes region and provides some indications to improve their management.