Raising awareness about Alzheimer's disease

(WTNH) -- Friday marked Alzheimer's Action Day.

From a distance, it's a snapshot of life, but the eyes tell a different story.

"She would ask the same questions and that's how we noticed something was different," said Michelle Nolan. "Her expressions were different. Her sparkle in her eyes was gone."

"She knows she has Alzheimer's, but she doesn't," said Adrienne Sanna. "She thinks she's more with it than she is."

Sisters Adrienne Sanna and Michelle Nolan, and their other siblings are caring for their mother Jane, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's six years ago.

Early detection was key to more time with their mother.

"They were able to get her on medication pretty quickly and she, being on that medication, what it did was it slowed it down, slowed down the disease," Nolan said.

Alzheimer's is a form of dementia that affects memory, thinking and behavior. Experts say increased awareness has in part led to a rise in the number of Alzheimer's cases.

"I think it's the cancer of 10 years ago," said Kristen Cusato, Alzheimer's Association. "We're talking about it more now, people aren't as afraid to talk about it as much, hence we have to get rid of the stigma."

Stigma that can create more barriers says neurologist Dr. Dario Zagar.

"They may not want other people to know they have Alzheimer's Disease because they are worried that they will be treated differently," said Dr. Zagar. "That they maybe discriminated against or that their relationship may change."

The hope is by educating others a clearer understanding will set in.

"The more exposure that they see that my mom can still, right now can still go to things, the softball games, and the soccer games and that she has Alzheimer's, but she actually still does it is education," said Sanna.

Dr. Zagar says the medication available is no cure for Alzheimer's.

There are 70,000 people in Connecticut with Alzheimer's and 174,000 caregivers.

There are a number of walks in the coming of weeks to raise money for research.