John MacInnes was the chief executive of an urban community planning company when he first noticed he was having trouble with his memory. John is normally an outgoing and garrulous person, but his mind went totally blank during a routine presentation for work.

His wife, Donna, had noticed earlier memory problems in her husband. A visit to their physician confirmed suspicions that John was likely in the early stages of Alzheimer’s.

Although he is a longtime resident of his town, Mr. MacInnes can now drive only on a limited basis since he is prone to getting lost. He gets frustrated when people speak too rapidly or change the subject of a conversation.

After retirement, Mr. MacInnes began to carve birds. He finds the task of shaping a block of wood into a bird helps him maintain concentration and focus.

Ms. MacInnes keeps a daily “to do” list with a few small tasks that keep him feeling productive each day. “When I’m down, it’s a lost day,” he says.

Donna MacInnes first noticed that something was wrong with her husband, John, when he accidentally knocked her over with a golf cart. He was not normally prone to such carelessness, so Ms. MacInnes asked her physician about it. Soon after, Mr. MacInnes was told he likely had Alzheimer’s disease.

Ms. MacInnes says that she watches John “like a hawk.” She does her best not to interfere with everything Mr. MacInnes does but keeps a close eye on him for signs of further memory or cognitive decline.

The couple has already spoken to an elder-care lawyer to help get their long-term care, financial and other issues in order. They have also begun to visit nursing homes for the day when Mr. MacInnes can no longer live at home.

Ms. MacInnes works hard to remain patient with her husband, and she often helps him finish his sentences. Together, they work to face the gradual decline of Alzheimer’s head on.

Pat Van Dyke found out she had early-onset Alzheimer’s disease at age 53. For months she had been having difficulty keeping on top of tasks at work, and Ms. Van Dyke believed she just needed to concentrate harder. However, a PET scan showed some signs of Alzheimer’s.

Immediately, Ms. Van Dyke began to take Aricept, a drug that seems to ease the memory loss and other symptoms of Alzheimer’s.

Soon after her diagnosis, Ms. Van Dyke, who lives alone, met with a lawyer to put in place a power of attorney and ensure that her end-of-life wishes were carried out when she could no longer care for herself. Ms. Van Dyke is also a member of an early-onset Alzheimer’s support group. She enjoys the camaraderie of talking with others facing early-onset disease.

Because her mother had the disease, Ms. Roby was actively involved in clinical trials and studies about Alzheimer’s disease. It was during one of these studies that researchers had noticed Ms. Roby’s memory had begun to decline, and she was given a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment. Three years later, Ms. Roby’s condition had progressed into early Alzheimer’s.

A watercolor painter, Ms. Roby continues to paint pictures of her friends’ homes and goes to weekly exercise classes.

Ms. Roby and her husband, George, speak frequently about how Alzheimer’s is affecting their lives. They have already made plans for Sue to go to a local nursing home when her disease gets worse, but for now she feels like she is doing well.

George Roby, a ceramic artist, helps to take care of his wife, Sue, who was told she had Alzheimer’s disease 13 years ago.

From the beginning, the couple realized that they needed to have frequent, ongoing discussions about Mr. Roby’s role in managing the household. As Mr. Roby says, they need to constantly adjust what works for them.

Mr. Roby’s artwork touches on the way Alzheimer’s affects patients and their loved-ones. One unfinished piece, “The Beta Amyloid,” speaks to the confusion that goes on both in the brain of an Alzheimer’s patient and in the research about Alzheimer’s.

Mr. Roby also attends a local support group with his wife that caters to caregivers. During each meeting, Mr. Roby sits with other caregivers to talk about issues like finances, long-term care and Alzheimer’s research.

Mr. Roby’s best advice to others facing a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s is to find the humor in it. Laughing at Alzheimer’s makes it all the more bearable, he says.