Alzheimer’s Hits Home for the Second Time
Yesterday I posted this on Facebook: “Received some bad news that one of my dear friends [name deleted here] has been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s. He’s only 60- I didn’t know you could get that disease that early but he said it’s not that uncommon. So please keep him in your prayers will you?”
Years ago, Alzheimer’s also struck our immediate family. I was a teenager when my Grandma Nan developed this horrible disease. She was on in years, but since my own memory is bad, I don’t know when she got it or how long it lasted. I do know she passed at 94. The one memory I have was being in her nursing home room when she asked my Mom why she needed to go to the bathroom.
Mom (left) and Nan in the late 1950’s
This morning, as I was thinking and praying for Bob, I wondered if Alzheimer’s disease can be cured or halted. I also wanted to create a blog today, so I decided to do both. I hope that my research will provide some good news for my dear friend. And perhaps you or a loved one can benefit from the following information.
What is Alzheimer’s and what are the Signs?
According to The Alzheimer’s Association, “Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, a general term for memory loss and other cognitive abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life.” Alzheimer’s accounts for 60 – 80 % of dementia cases. Most people acquire it when they are over age 65. When symptoms occur before then, it is known as early-onset Alzheimer’s. Approximately 5% of those with Alzheimer’s have early-onset. Hundreds of thousands of Americans show symptoms in their 40s and 50s – some even in their 30s.
Recent research shows that 700,000 U.S. deaths per year are attributable to Alzheimer’s and dementia. Thus, Alzheimer’s is the third leading cause of death, following cancer and heart disease. Individuals with Alzheimer’s and related dementias live for anywhere between 2 and 20 years after diagnosis, and for 8-10 years on average.
Photo courtesy of war-vets.org
Perhaps the most sinister thing about Alzheimer’s disease is that it progresses slowly and that it’s often hard to diagnose in its early stages. It’s very easy to write off someone who is in the early stages of the disease as merely absent-minded or forgetful. Therefore it’s crucial to be able to recognize the symptoms of Alzheimer’s so that a person with the disease can receive the help that he or she needs to live a comfortable life.
Symptoms of this disease usually include most or all of the following: memory lapses, disorientation, problems with writing and/ or speaking, difficulty with thinking and concentrating, problems performing familiar tasks, and mood changes.
How Many People Have it and is There a Remedy?
UsAgainstAlzheimer’s estimates that 5.4 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s. This number is steadily rising, and it is predicted that 12 million will be affected by 2020. At this time, most scientists agree that they do not know the exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease. And most experts say there is currently no cure. However, this article claims that not only can Alzheimer’s be prevented, but it can indeed be reversed. Recent advancements in research have provided treatments that can temporarily slow the worsening of symptoms and improve quality of life for some people. Important clinical trials are now underway focused on potential prevention and treatment for Alzheimer’s. To obtain more information or to volunteer, click here. This is just one of many studies being conducted. You can find more by Googling “Alzheimers clinical trials.”
Data courtesy of usagainstalzheimers.org
You Can Help!
The National Institutes of Health spends over $6 billion a year on cancer research, over $4 billion on heart disease research and over $3 billion on HIV/AIDS research. But it only spends $480 million on Alzheimer’s research. Please help in this endeavor. One place you can go to donate or to learn more is to visit alz.org. The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. You can also sign the Stop Alz petition.
If you know someone who could benefit from this article, please share it!