Alzheimer’s
disease is a brain disease that causes a slow decline in memory, thinking and
reasoning skills. It is the most common form of dementia and is not a
normal part of aging.
Here are
some statistics about Alzheimer’s:
·
The
sixth leading cause of death in the United States
·
The
fifth leading cause of death for people aged 65 and older
·
One
in nine people aged 65 and older has it
·
More
than 5 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer’s or another
dementia
·
The
estimated number of 2016 cases is
estimated to go up to 5.6 million people
·
The
only disease among the top 10 causes of death that cannot be prevented, cured
or slowed down
·
Takes
a devastating toll on caregivers due to emotional stress, depression and wage
loss
·
Predicted
to cost our country over $236 billion this year for health care, long-term care
and hospice
This data is
pretty sobering. The number of Americans living with Alzheimer’s is growing
fast. Although most people are aged 65 and older, there are still 200,000
people who are under 65 and have it. As the baby boomers age, the numbers will
escalate at a faster rate.
It can be
easily seen that Alzheimer’s disease is costing us a lot. Not only in dollar
value, but the cost of losing our loved ones. It’s hard to see someone you love
deteriorate before your eyes and not remember simple things. When a
mother-in-law with Alzheimer’s doesn’t recognize people she’s known for years
or asks three times in a thirty minute visit if her husband or parents are
living or dead, the price is also large for the family and friends.
What are the
signs?
·
Memory
loss that disrupts daily life (forgetting dates/events, asking for the same
information over and over, forgetting recently learned information)
·
Challenges
in planning or solving problems (following a recipe, paying bills)
·
Difficulty
completing familiar tasks at home, work or leisure (problems driving to a
familiar location, remembering the rules of a favorite game)
·
Confusion
with time or place (losing track of dates, seasons, forgetting where they are)
·
Trouble
understanding visual images and spatial relationships (difficulty reading, judging
distance, determining color)
·
New
problems with words in speaking or writing (trouble following or joining a
conversation)
·
Misplacing
things and losing the ability to retrace steps (putting things in unusual
places, accusing others of stealing)
·
Decreased
or poor judgment (problems with handling money, less attention to grooming)
·
Withdrawal
from work or social activities (problems remembering how to complete a favorite
hobby)
·
Changes
in mood and personality (suspicious, depressed, fearful, anxious, easily upset)
What can you
do to support Alzheimer’s Awareness Month?
·
Stay
informed by reading up on the diagnosis. If some of the above signs are noticed
in friends, relatives or even yourself, get to a health care professional.
Early detection can help get the maximum benefit from available treatments that
can provide some relief of symptoms.
·
Make
a tax deductible donation to support research, programs and services
·
Become
an advocate by helping to persuade Congress to address this growing need in our
country
·
Learn
the facts and help change the numbers
The brain is
worth saving.
