By Whitney Gambrill
Published Week of May 27

(HealthDay News) -- Free, easy-to-read booklets that explain Alzheimer's disease and memory loss are now available for people with limited reading skills.

Created by the U.S. National Institute on Aging (NIA), the "goal was to produce strong, clear materials to make information about Alzheimer's disease and memory loss accessible to everyone," NIA director Dr. Richard Hodes said in a prepared statement.

In designing the booklets, NIA researchers conducted interviews with caregivers and people with Alzheimer's disease (AD) to gather feedback about the pamphlets.

"We carefully tested each booklet for overall appeal, format, graphic elements, comprehension, cultural appropriateness and self-efficacy," said Patricia Lynch, a project officer at the Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center.

Understanding Alzheimer's includes the signs of the disease, treatment options and how caregivers can help.

Understanding Memory Loss provides readers with tips to tell the difference between severe and mild memory problems, their causes and treatments, and how families can lend a hand.

More information

To order a copy of the booklets, visit the Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center.