How to Maintain Your Identity With Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s DiseaseExperiences With Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer patients Seth, Paula, Susan and Seth's care partner Stacy

How to Feel Like ‘You’ While Living With Alzheimer’s Disease

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Published on September 8, 2026
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Alzheimer’s disease can cause subtle changes to your mood and abilities, which can change the way you see yourself.

While many people with Alzheimer’s disease feel as if they’ve lost their sense of self, others report that many parts of their identity have remained the same: their likes and dislikes, music taste, sense of humor, and childhood memories.

“You still have preferences, values, relationships, history, and things that give your life meaning,” says Karen Lincoln, PhD, a social worker, gerontology researcher, and professor of environmental and occupational health at the University of California in Irvine. “The diagnosis is part of your story. But it’s not your whole story.”

Everyday Health spoke with Alzheimer’s experts and three people living with the condition, as well as one person’s care partner, to understand how they are navigating identity changes.

Focus on Who You Really Are

Although the symptoms of Alzheimer’s can feel all-consuming, you’re not defined by your diagnosis. “It doesn’t change your worth, and it doesn’t mean that you aren’t capable of engaging in the things that matter to you,” says Dr. Lincoln.

That might mean doing hobbies or activities you’ve always enjoyed, even if you have to make changes to them.

“If you used to cook an entire meal but can no longer do that safely, maybe you can choose the recipe, wash the vegetables, stir something, or set the table,” says Lincoln. “You’re still participating. You’re still contributing. You’re still yourself.”

Paula Glickman

Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2022

“When I walk into … that yoga studio, I am just another yogini. I do not have Alzheimer’s.”
Paula Glickman

Seth Newfeld

Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2023

“I ride my bike and go into the woods. That helps. That gives me a way to feel like I’m getting away [from my diagnosis].”

Seth Newfeld

Listen to Music You Enjoy

Music can help you express yourself, get in touch with your emotions, and lift your spirits. None of that changes, even though you have Alzheimer’s. In fact, research suggests music therapy can help people living with Alzheimer’s feel less depressed and anxious, recall details from the past, and improve their ability to communicate.

You can try joining a formalized music therapy program, in which you work with a trained music therapist to listen to music and do exercises, sing, or do other music-related activities. Or you can simply listen to music on your own, opting for songs that connect with your identity or relate to a meaningful time in your life.

Reminisce About the Past

It’s not always easy to remember recent events or information if you have Alzheimer’s disease. But you may still remember the past, such as your time in school, raising your children, old friendships, or your professional life. Though the details may feel a little fuzzy, you may recall more about your past than you might think and find plenty of enjoyment from the experience.

This is known as reminiscence, or reflecting on the past. Whether done on your own, with loved ones, or through “reminiscence therapy,” it can improve your well-being and help you reconnect with who you are.

Make a point each day or week to reflect on the past — in particular, enjoyable times in your life or events where you felt most like yourself. You can also participate in reminiscence therapy, in which you’ll do guided experiences based on your past.

“Reminiscence therapy shifts your focus from ‘I cannot do this anymore’ to reflecting on who you have been, what you have valued, and, subsequently, what still matters to you,” says Drew Maygren, DO, a geriatric psychiatrist at Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, California.


Paula

“[I’m still] my open, honest self, my welcoming of other people to share. There’s part of me, the therapist in me, that is still alive. My love of hugging. I’m a hugger. I hug trees. I hug people every chance I get.”
Paula

Make Small But Meaningful Decisions

As Alzheimer’s progresses, you may feel like you have less control over your life. You may need to give up your job, for example, which may cause a further loss of identity, or give up driving, which costs you your independence. As choices are increasingly made for you, it can feel grounding and rewarding to make decisions while you still can.

Susan Oyama

Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2022

“Regardless of Alzheimer’s, I am still here. … I’m here as a person who can speak and speak back ... who is sometimes allowed to make decisions for herself and does so.”

Susan Oyama

While some choices may seem trivial on the surface — what you want for dinner, for example, or what shirt you put on in the morning — they can contribute to a routine and daily life that feel like you. 

“These may seem like small decisions, but collectively they communicate something very powerful: Your preferences still matter,” says David Perlmutter, MD, a board-certified neurologist and author of Brain Defenders.

Let your loved ones or caregiver know that you would like to be part of decision-making to some extent. Whether it’s picking which movie to put on TV or how you want your eggs prepared for breakfast, these choices signal to those around you — and yourself — that you’re an active participant in your life.

EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Norberg A. Chapter 13: Sense of Self Among Persons With Advanced Dementia. Alzheimer’s Disease. December 20, 2019.
  2. Matziorinis AM et al. The Promise of Music Therapy for Alzheimer’s Disease: A Review. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. October 2022.
  3. Thompson N et al. How and Why Music Therapy Reduces Distress and Improves Well-Being in Advanced Dementia Care: A Realist Review. Nature Mental Health. December 2024.
  4. Yanagida N et al. Evaluating the Impact of Reminiscence Therapy on Cognitive and Emotional Outcomes in Dementia Patients. Journal of Personalized Medicine. June 2024.
  5. Reminiscence and Reminiscence Therapy. Alzheimer’s Association.
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Angela D. Harper, MD, is in private practice at Columbia Psychiatric Associates in South Carolina, where she provides evaluations, medication management, and psychotherapy for adul...

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