Many newly diagnosed Alzheimer’s patients go through the stressful phase of realizing they are losing their memory while still having enough insight to know that, over time, they will no longer be able to care for themselves.

So a team of researchers from Chicago — a city known for improvisational theater — is testing a new idea of whether unscripted theater games can affect the well-being of these patients.

Julianne Hill reports.

Client: NPR’s Morning Edition

Date: August 15, 2011