[Rights of people with Alzheimer's disease]

Population aging and the increasing prevalence of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders raise the question about the existence of legal tools to protect and maintain patient autonomy. Against this background, it is essential that physicians are aware of the different legal options that allow them to help patients in need. Justice protection (sauvegarde de justice), guardianship (curatelle) and trusteeship (tutelle) are useful tools, but they leave no room for anticipation. While these emergency tools have to be constantly adapted to the condition of the protected adult, they are still imposed. Thus the emergence of a new tool, the future power of attorney (mandat de protection future), asserts the right to foresight, and allows the patient to regain a central position in their future management.