What's it like to have Alzheimer's?

You guys know how prevalent Alzheimer's disease is.

2014 Facts and Figures from the Alzheimer's Association. 

With one in three seniors living with the disease, I'm certain you've known someone who has it. 

Some of the most devastating parts are not what we usually hear about when people discuss the disease. Alzheimer's robs people of so much more than their memory and has several difficult stages that manifest themselves in unexpected ways.  

If you've loved someone with Alzheimer's you've probably wondered what it was like to have the disease. Understanding what it is like can help you understand how to cope.

Put yourself in their shoes

Alexander Tarvet, a student studying Game Design & Production Management at Abertay University in Dundee, Scotland developed Forget-Me-Knot, a game that lets you step into the shoes of someone with dementia. Here's a video of his game. 

The wandering and aimlessness you experience in the game reminds me of the many interactions I've had with people with Alzheimer's. As a former caregiver, I am struck by the tension of the scene -- I kept imagining falling into the fire or breaking things around the house in my clumsiness. 

As a first person game, Forget-Me-Knot will go far in helping those who love someone with Alzheimer's understand what their loved one is experiencing. Read more about Forget-Me-Knot on Engadget.