Almost every major disease known to man has a foundation or other support group associated with it to raise awareness and funds for research. An Internet search will most likely reveal at least one or two such groups somewhere in the world. With this global capability, information, support, and other levels of assistance can be found from your living room.

Before jumping into anything, consult with your parents' PCP. Understand that anyone who claims he can cure a disease with traditional or nontraditional medicine may have had some dumb luck once or is a terrific con artist. If he truly could cure a disease, it would quickly be a proven fact, and he would become a candidate for a Nobel Prize.

Nontraditional treatments can be dangerous and should be evaluated for appropriateness for your parent first. Some may help alleviate symptoms and indeed offer some relief, if only for a short period of time. But care should be taken not to make a situation worse. Good common sense can go a long way in keeping you from parting with your hard-earned money for some snake-oil treatment. Some of the most well-known support groups for memory and cognitive issues include: