Thanksgiving & Alzheimer's ANN ARBOR, MI (Michigan Radio) -

The Thanksgiving holiday gives far-flung families a rare change to get together.

But in some cases, these family reunions may raise unsettling questions for adult children with aging parents.

Lisa Gardner is a family service program coordinator with the Alzheimer's Association of Michigan. She says the holidays are a stressful time for people suffering from different forms of dementia.

"For people with dementia, the holidays can be overwhelming," says Gardner, "Because they're put in an environment that is too over stimulating. It can actually exacerbate their symptoms a bit more."

Gardner recommends adult children who live too far away to do it themselves, to get someone they trust to monitor their aging parents for increasing signs of dementia.

The Alzheimer's Association also offers additional information on their website.

http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_know_the_10_signs.asp © Copyright 2010, Michigan Radio