Fish May Help Protect The Mind

Can't hurt to add some to your Diet.

Hey folks,

Our friends over at the Alzheimer's Association sent this to me. It's from Health Day. Seems eating more Fish, may help protect your Mind. Your mental functioning, memory, thought process, etc. This is good news for those that are getting up there in age. It may help stave off Mental Decline.

According to HealthDay - Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Protect the Aging Brain Those who consumed the most did better on tests of mental functioning, study says By Carina Storrs HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, Feb. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Middle-aged and elderly adults who regularly eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids may slow the mental decline that leads to dementia, according to a new study.

Researchers found that people with the highest blood levels of these essential fatty acids found in fish such as salmon and tuna were more likely to perform well on tests of mental functioning and to experience less age-related brain shrinkage.

You know. My friend Rich Stevens has an ECELLENT Recipe for Salmon. You cook it in the Dish Washer. True. I think you can still find it over at his Blog. Yup. You can find it HERE.

"We feel fatty-acid consumption exerts a beneficial effect on brain aging by promoting vascular health," said the study's lead author, Dr. Zaldy Tan, associate professor at the Easton Center for Alzheimer's Disease Research and the division of geriatrics at the University of California, Los Angeles. This might include reducing blood pressure and inflammation, he added.

Previous research linked dementia risk with the amount of omega-3 fatty acids in blood plasma, which reflects how much people had eaten in the past few days. But in the current work, researchers could estimate the amount of omega-3s that participants had consumed in the past several months by looking at how much had built up in their red blood cells.

"This represents their average intake of fatty acids, not just a snapshot," Tan said.

The study, published in the Feb. 28 issue of the journal Neurology, did not prove that omega-3 fatty acids prevent mental decline, merely that there may be an association between consumption of fatty acids and brain health.

For the study, researchers measured the red blood cell level of fatty acids in 1,575 dementia-free people whose average age was 67. About three months later, participants underwent mental-functioning tests and MRI scans that examined brain size and blood supply in the brain.

The participants were in the Framingham Offspring Study, which is predominately white. Whether the association would apply to other ethnic and racial groups needs to be explored, the authors said.

The researchers found that those with the lowest levels of omega-3s had worse scores on tests of visual memory, attention and abstract thinking than people who ranked in the top 75 percent for fatty-acid levels.

Adults in the bottom 25 percent also tended to have smaller brain volume overall. The decrease in brain volume was enough to make their brains appear two years older than those of people in the top three-quarters for fatty-acid levels.

Brain scans also showed signs of less blood supply in the brains of people with the lowest omega-3 levels. This suggests they may play a role in promoting general vascular, or blood vessel, health in the brain, similar to how they are thought to help heart health, rather than acting on just one brain area, Tan said.

The researchers took into account various health and lifestyle factors, including age, education and body mass index, to explore whether other differences among the people with low levels of omega-3s could help explain their more rapid brain aging.

But after controlling for those risk factors, "the difference [in brain aging] is still there so we conclude that omega-3 fatty acids likely explain them," Tan said.

Tan added, however, that it remains possible that factors they did not control for, such as fruit and vegetable consumption, are really responsible for the brain benefits. Another possibility is that the slight mental decline that the people in the older brain group were experiencing caused them to eat less healthy omega-3-rich foods, instead of vice versa.

"This is a strengthening of the argument that people with less [omega-3 fatty acids] have higher risk of dementia," said Dr. Nikolaos Scarmeas, associate professor of clinical neurology at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City.

But questions remain over whether fatty-acid levels really influence changes in brain size, Scarmeas added. A clinical trial comparing high and low intake of omega-3s in relation to brain imaging would help answer those questions, he said.

In the meantime, fish is "a good prescription for other things and we have a hint it might be helpful for the brain," Scarmeas said.

That the current study reported a difference in brain health between people with omega-3 fatty-acid levels in the bottom 25 percent and top 75 percent suggests that there is a threshold level of consumption to attain brain gains.

A previous study in which participants filled out food surveys found decreased risk of vascular brain problems among those who ate at least three servings of fish a week.

More information
Find out more about brain health at the Alzheimer's Association.

SOURCES: Zaldy Tan, M.D., associate professor, Easton Center for Alzheimer's Disease Research and the Division of Geriatrics, University of California, Los Angeles; Dr. Nikolaos Scarmeas, associate professor, neurology, Columbia University, New York City; Feb. 28, 2012, Neurology

Last Updated: Feb. 27, 2012
Copyright © 2012 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

So with most of these things, some say yeah, some neh. However, it makes Logical Sense. Can't hurt to add some to your Diet. I know I should. Not a big cooked Fish person. Love Sushi, Lobster, Shrimp. ETC. But regular cooked Fish? I guess I have to work on that. Not just for this, but for the other Health benefits Fish can provide.

Be right back..
Peter

Sources:
HealthDay - Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Protect the Aging Brain

Caregiver Village For the Caregivers of America

Health and Science for Sunday 100911.

Hey folks,

In today's Health and Science Segment, I want to talk about YOU. A VERY SPECIAL YOU. You are not alone. If you are a Caregiver, you are among some 50 MILLION others out there, experiencing life as you are today.

For the first 11 years of my life, I lived in a big house with my Mother, Aunt, and Grand Parents. My Dad leaving when I was 13 Months Old. I've talked about growing up in Salisbury Mills NY, many times. I have shared how it was the BEST times of my life. How my Grandmother instilled a lot of the Morals and Points of View I still have today. The fact that I do not even believe she had Locks on the Door. I have talked about how she basically raised me, my Mother Working at the time to help pay Bills. I've talked about my Best Friend Billy. All these things. But what I haven't really talked all that much about, is the fact that my Grandfather had Parkinson Disease. Oh, I've mentioned it. I talked about how he could do nothing for himself. How my Grandmother took care of his every need. But I have not REALLY shared that.

One fateful day, my Grandmother, sleeping in her Chair, heard my Grandfather calling. She got up, and dropped from a major Heart Attack. Doctors said she was dead before she hit the Floor. Her Heart just exploded. EVERY DAY for the whole 11 years of my life EVERY DAY, from morning to night, ALL night, 24-7, my Grandmother took care of my Grandfather. She also raised me, my Friend Billy, my Aunt, took care of my Mother, Cooked for the Family, and even for some less fortunate in Town. But NO ONE, knew what that REALLY meant until she was gone.

My mother, and Aunt, learned REALLY fast what it meant to take care of some one's every need, 24-7. They would admit to you to this very day, that they had NO IDEA! Then to do all the other things she did? She must have been a Super Woman. She WAS! But then, there are a LOT of Super People out there. They are all, for whatever reasons, doing the same. You are not alone.

I want to introduce you to Caregiver Village. Folks this truly is amazing. It's an online Community designed exclusively for those who provide Care for anyone with Special Needs. Caregiver Village Members connect with friends, participate in Book Clubs with Celebrity Authors, Journal, play Mystery Games, Solve Puzzles. I'm not kidding. There is a lot to do. But most important than all that? Other than meeting people going through the same things, and being able to support each other, you will also learn valuable information about Caregiving.

From their Website:

At Caregiver Village, we’re here to serve the needs and concerns of today’s caregivers. Its a place to connect with other people who face similar challenges, obtain valuable resources, share journal entries and read those of others about caregiving journeys. Visitors can meet well-known authors and participate in their book clubs and play our Village Chronicles game, for learning or just for fun.

The Village Chronicles is an entertaining on-line mystery adventure story that integrates caregiving situations into a game-like atmosphere. You can connect with your friends, find links to valuable resources within Caregiver Village, solve puzzles, achieve ranks, and earn badges. It’s a learning experience that is engaging and fun.

It really is. I'll admit something to you. I'm being honest here. I hope I do not offend anyone here, but the truth is, I get a lot of Emails asking me to plug this or that. Asking me to post links for support for this and or that. In very RARE occasions, I will take the time to go to the site and check it out. And in even MORE RARE situations, I post them here. Most I do not even click.

I went here. I went to this Site for TWO reasons. One, I lived it. I understand that those that fall into a Caregiver Role, for whatever reason, and they make the decision to take that role on, instead of looking for alternatives, Hospitals, Nursing Homes, that sort of thing, are VERY Special People. Some of these things, all have GREAT Purposes, and I understand and do appreciate what they do, they can also be Dumping Grounds.

Reason two, I understand the POWER of togetherness. The pure Strength that two people can draw from one enough that are going through the same or extremely similar things. In the Military, Soldiers find this bond to be stronger than Marriages, Family, ETC. Those that survive Disasters? Same thing. It's one of those things that you can not even imagine, unless you live it. Nothing is more traumatic than becoming a Caregiver. To give up one's life, to put their Hopes and Dreams on hold, to care for someone else's EVERY need, 24-7. In a lot of these cases, on top of just the daily grind, you have to throw in there, the fact that they are watching the one they love, slowly disappear before their very eyes. I'm starting to watch this take place again, this time with my Mother In-Law, taking the Role of Caregiver to my Father In-Law, who is showing signs of Alzheimer's. Also from their Website:

Facts

The societal problem:

Despite millions of government dollars and hundreds of dedicated websites, family caregivers are in trouble. With over 60 million family caregivers in the U.S. alone, many caregivers become sick (with nearly twice the rate of chronic illnesses as their non-caregiving peers); they’re depressed (40-70% report significant feelings of depression), they face a significantly increased risk of stroke, and they’re frustrated, unable to find resources or solutions they need to help with the enormous burden thrust upon them. They’re also costly to our economy accounting for an estimated $33.6 billion in lost productivity.
The caregiver’s problem:

Family caregivers are exhausted, stressed to the point of illness and frustrated by their isolation. Caregiver Village’s virtual village creates a close knit community where caregivers can discover a sense of deep personal satisfaction – and escape – from the hard, intense work of family caregiving; while simultaneously learning how to handle their stress and building online connections with people in exactly the same situation as them.

It’s time for a new solution. It’s time for Caregiver Village.

•An escape from worries; an innovative way to gain new skills.Games and episodic TV works because they provide escape. Caregiver Village engages caregivers for hours as they play an episodic game while they engage and learn. They return to play the next episode deepening their engagement and learning.

•Real support and connections. Caregivers need support. Caregiver Village creates an online ‘village’ environment where caregivers engage for hours as they interact with others while they and learn and escape. People connect based on common needs and interests in a place that becomes their own village of support and encouragement.

•The power of sharing. Caregivers need to share their story with others. Caregiver Village gives caregivers a means to share their story through the creation of an online journal, guided by supportive experts and well know real life authors. These authors host discussion groups and interact with village members. They help them share their own stories and they discuss topics of community interest.

•A treasure trove of resources. While Caregiver Village is an escape and outlet for stress, it is also packed full of valuable resources for caregivers. Over 1,000 resources, including courses, tip sheets, caregiving products and hundreds of links to disease specific resources are personalized to their needs.

•Advanced technology. Caregiver Village is not just a website. It is a technologically advanced product that uses the most modern technologies available - mobile technology, gamification, social networking, social media, web based course delivery and other advanced technologies - to solve one of the country’s most desperate problems.

I went there. I signed up. I am now a member of the Caretaker Village. And you can too. Just go here: Caregiver Village, and sign up. The first year is FREE. If you find it, which I'm sure you will, if you find it a most valuable resource and tool for you, it's only $49.99 a year. That's AFTER a First YEAR FREE!

Folks, trust me on this one. If you are a Caregiver, you NEED to take some time out to at least check them out. You are not alone, and you do not have to go through this alone. If you know someone who is a Caregiver, check it out FOR them. Then you can decide if they should add it to their daily help. My Grandmother had no one to lean on. No one to learn from. She did this all herself. You do not have to. Your Caregiver Friend or Family Member, doesn't have to. Caregiver Village is here for you. All you have to do is check them out, and like me, you can become a Member. A Friend. A Confidant. Perhaps even a SOURCE of information and Strength for someone else. I went there. Now I'm a firm believer. It's well worth the time.
Peter

Sources:
Caregiver Village

Signs Of Alzheimer's

"What to look for?"

Hey folks,

Back on Sunday, May 8, 2011, I posted a Two Part Series on Alzheimer's. Some of you have Emailed me and asked me about my Story and various questions about Alzheimer's and Dementia. I'm no expert in the field. I'm not the one to answer any Medical Questions at all. But the folks over at The Alzheimer's Association CAN answer your questions. Go to THEIR site and check it out. It is well worth the time. It is a Treasure Trove of information from what Alzheimer's and Dementia is, the Warning Signs to dealing with someone who suffers from the disease. They are GREAT people also. I'm in contact with some over there and they REALLY want to get you this information.

But a friend of mine asked me, "Pete, I saw your Post on Alzheimer's. I do not talk about it, but I think I may be seeing some early signs of it in my Mom. I would be lying if I said I was not starting to get a little scared, but I do not want to read something into nothing." So again I directed him to The Alzheimer's Association Website. But since this IS something that many of us will have to deal with, I figured why not discuss this a bit more in this weeks Health and Science Segment.

Memory loss that disrupts daily life is not a typical part of aging. It may be a symptom of Alzheimer's, a fatal brain disease that causes a slow decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills. Every individual may experience one or more of these signs in different degrees. If you notice any of them, please see a doctor. Learn how Alzheimer's affects the brain and take the Brain Tour.

10 warning signs of Alzheimer's:

Memory loss that disrupts daily life

One of the most common signs of Alzheimer's is memory loss, especially forgetting recently learned information. Others include forgetting important dates or events; asking for the same information over and over; relying on memory aides (e.g., reminder notes or electronic devices) or family members for things they used to handle on their own.

What's a typical age-related change? Sometimes forgetting names or appointments, but remembering them later.

Challenges in planning or solving problems

Some people may experience changes in their ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers. They may have trouble following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills. They may have difficulty concentrating and take much longer to do things than they did before.

What's a typical age-related change? Making occasional errors when balancing a checkbook.

Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure

People with Alzheimer's often find it hard to complete daily tasks. Sometimes, people may have trouble driving to a familiar location, managing a budget at work or remembering the rules of a favorite game.

What's a typical age-related change? Occasionally needing help to use the settings on a microwave or to record a television show.

Confusion with time or place

People with Alzheimer's can lose track of dates, seasons and the passage of time. They may have trouble understanding something if it is not happening immediately. Sometimes they may forget where they are or how they got there.

What's a typical age-related change? Getting confused about the day of the week but figuring it out later.

Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships

For some people, having vision problems is a sign of Alzheimer's. They may have difficulty reading, judging distance and determining color or contrast. In terms of perception, they may pass a mirror and think someone else is in the room. They may not realize they are the person in the mirror.

What's a typical age-related change? Vision changes related to cataracts.

New problems with words in speaking or writing

People with Alzheimer's may have trouble following or joining a conversation. They may stop in the middle of a conversation and have no idea how to continue or they may repeat themselves. They may struggle with vocabulary, have problems finding the right word or call things by the wrong name (e.g., calling a "watch" a "hand-clock").

What's a typical age-related change? Sometimes having trouble finding the right word.

Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps

A person with Alzheimer's disease may put things in unusual places. They may lose things and be unable to go back over their steps to find them again. Sometimes, they may accuse others of stealing. This may occur more frequently over time.

What's a typical age-related change? Misplacing things from time to time, such as a pair of glasses or the remote control.

Decreased or poor judgment

People with Alzheimer's may experience changes in judgment or decision-making. For example, they may use poor judgment when dealing with money, giving large amounts to telemarketers. They may pay less attention to grooming or keeping themselves clean.

What's a typical age-related change? Making a bad decision once in a while.

Withdrawal from work or social activities

A person with Alzheimer's may start to remove themselves from hobbies, social activities, work projects or sports. They may have trouble keeping up with a favorite sports team or remembering how to complete a favorite hobby. They may also avoid being social because of the changes they have experienced.

What's a typical age-related change? Sometimes feeling weary of work, family and social obligations.

Changes in mood and personality

The mood and personalities of people with Alzheimer's can change. They can become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious. They may be easily upset at home, at work, with friends or in places where they are out of their comfort zone.

What's a typical age-related change? Developing very specific ways of doing things and becoming irritable when a routine is disrupted.

Copyright © 2009 Alzheimer's Association®. All rights reserved.

So I told my friend, if his Mom is showing any of these signs, and I'm telling YOU, if YOU or a Loved One of YOURS is showing any of these signs, PLEASE go to the Doctor and get checked out. Time is NOT on your side.

Be right back.
Peter

Sources:
Alzheimer's Association - 10 warning signs of Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's Thief of the Mind. Part One

Her name is Vera.

Hey folks,

I've told this story, in one form or another in the past. If you heard it, please bear with me. If not, her name is Vera.

Vera was a 90 year old, sharp as a tack, quick witted, beautiful Woman. I met her while doing a stint in the Nursing Home Industry. I would sit with her for HOURS, talking, laughing, just sharing eachother's company. I, mostly listening. She would tell me stories of the Past, talk about her family, and would always ask how things were with me.

One day, Vera starting to talk to me about this young, beautiful Blond, CNA, named Laura. She would kid about how cute a couple we would make. She then started telling me that Laura thought I was cute.

Little did I know, at the same time, she was talking with Laura when Laura when on her breaks. She was telling her the same about me. That I thought she was cute, and what a beautiful couple we would make.

Fast forward, Marriage, two Sons, and a pretty happy life. Vera was right. So we continued to sit and talk with her, now together. Even after I left, I would still go in and meet with her. She even got to meet Joshua when he was 6 Months old.

As time when on, we noticed Vera slipping away. She started to fade in and out. One minute she was there engaged in the conversation, the next, she was changing subjects abruptly, repeating things she just said, ETC. As time went on, Vera was more out than in, if you will. She would think that I was her Son, Laura her Daughter, however, for some reason, she ALWAYS knew Joshua was Josh. She would start talking about things we had no clue about, but when she looked back at Josh, she would call him by name and even ask how he was doing. Then, she was gone.

It truly was a heart breaking experience. Now my Father In-law is starting to show the signs. What is it? Alzheimer's. Quite literally, the Thief of the Mind.

What is Alzheimer's?

Alzheimer's disease (AD), is one form of dementia that gradually gets worse over time. It affects memory, thinking, and behavior.

Memory impairment, as well as problems with language, decision-making ability, judgment, and personality, are necessary features for the diagnosis.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Age and family history are risk factors for AD.

As you get older, your risk of developing AD goes up. However, developing Alzheimer's disease is not a part of normal aging.

Having a close blood relative, such as a brother, sister, or parent who developed AD increases your risk.

Having certain combination of genes for proteins that appear to be abnormal in Alzheimer's disease also increases your risk.

Other risk factors that are not as well proven include:

Longstanding high blood pressure

History of head trauma

Female gender

There are two types of AD -- early onset and late onset.

In early onset AD, symptoms first appear before age 60. Early onset AD is much less common than late onset. However, it tends to progress rapidly. Early onset disease can run in families. Several genes have been identified.

Late onset AD, the most common form of the disease, develops in people age 60 and older. Late onset AD may run in some families, but the role of genes is less clear.

The cause of AD is not entirely known, but is thought to include both genetic and environmental factors. A diagnosis of AD is made when certain symptoms are present, and by making sure other causes of dementia are not present.

The only way to know for certain that someone has AD is to examine a sample of their brain tissue after death. The following changes are more common in the brain tissue of people with AD:

"Neurofibrillary tangles" (twisted fragments of protein within nerve cells that clog up the cell)

"Neuritic plaques" (abnormal clusters of dead and dying nerve cells, other brain cells, and protein)

"Senile plaques" (areas where products of dying nerve cells have accumulated around protein).

When nerve cells (neurons) are destroyed, there is a decrease in the chemicals that help nerve cells send messages to one another (called neurotransmitters). As a result, areas of the brain that normally work together become disconnected.

The buildup of aluminum, lead, mercury, and other substances in the brain is no longer believed to be a cause of AD.

In Part Two, we will look at what is coming on the Horizon. As the Baby Boomers come of age, so does the risk of the increase of the number of case of people with Alzheimer's. Be right back.
Peter

Sources:
Pub Med Health - Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's Association - Generation Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's Thief of the Mind. Part Two, Boomers

The Boomers are coming.

Hey folks,

One of the things that we hear all the time is "the Boomers are coming." That means Social Security will not be able to support it. An increased strain on the Healthcare System. Less people working to pay for those not. ETC. Another thing that needs to be looked at, is the increase Cases that WILL come, of Alzheimer's.

Our friends over at Alzheimer's Association, put together a new Report dealing with this issue. First, some News Facts.

This year, the first wave of baby boomers are turning 65 – and with increased age comes increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

Our new report, "Generation Alzheimer's: The Defining Disease of the Baby Boomers," sheds light on a crisis that is no longer emerging – but here.

Many baby boomers will spend their retirement years either with Alzheimer's or caring for someone who has it.

An estimated 10 million baby boomers will develop Alzheimer's.

Starting this year, more than 10,000 baby boomers a day will turn 65. As these baby boomers age, one of out of eight of them will develop Alzheimer’s – a devastating, costly, heartbreaking disease. Increasingly for these baby boomers, it will no longer be their grandparents and parents who have Alzheimer’s – it will be them.

"Alzheimer’s is a tragic epidemic that has no survivors. Not a single one," said Harry Johns, president and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association. "It is as much a thief as a killer. Alzheimer’s will darken the long-awaited retirement years of the one out of eight baby boomers who will develop it. Those who will care for these loved ones will witness, day by day, the progressive and relentless realities of this fatal disease. But we can still change that if we act now."

According to the new Alzheimer’s Association report, "Generation Alzheimer’s," it is expected that 10 million baby boomers will either die with or from Alzheimer’s, the only cause of death among the top 10 in America without a way to prevent, cure or even slow its progression. But, while Alzheimer’s kills, it does so only after taking everything away, slowly stripping an individual’s autonomy and independence. Even beyond the cruel impact Alzheimer’s has on the individuals with the disease, Generation Alzheimer’s also details the negative cascading effects the disease places on millions of caregivers. Caregivers and families go through the agony of losing a loved one twice: first to the ravaging effects of the disease and then, ultimately, to actual death.

"Most people survive an average of four to six years after a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, but many can live as long as 20 years with the disease. As the disease progresses, the person with dementia requires more and more assistance with everyday tasks like bathing, dressing, eating and household activities," said Beth Kallmyer, senior director of Constituent Relations for the Alzheimer’s Association. "This long duration often places increasingly intensive care demands on the nearly 15 million family members and friends who provide unpaid care, and it negatively affects their health, employment, income and financial security."

In addition to the human toll, over the next 40 years Alzheimer’s will cost the nation $20 trillion, enough to pay off the national debt and still send a $20,000 check to every man, woman and child in America. And while every 69 seconds someone in America develops Alzheimer’s disease today, by 2050 someone will develop the disease every 33 seconds - unless the federal government commits to changing the Alzheimer’s trajectory.

"Alzheimer’s – with its broad ranging impact on individuals, families, Medicare and Medicaid - has the power to bring the country to its financial knees," said Robert J. Egge, vice president of Public Policy of the Alzheimer’s Association. "But when the federal government has been focused, committed and willing to put the necessary resources to work to confront a disease that poses a real public health threat to the nation – there has been great success. In order to see the day where Alzheimer’s is no longer a death sentence, we need to see that type of commitment with Alzheimer’s." The full text of the Alzheimer’s Association’s "Generation Alzheimer’s" report can be viewed at www.alz.org/boomers.

Generation Alzheimer's: The defining disease of the baby boomers

This year, the first baby boomers turn 65. While Alzheimer’s is not normal aging, age is the greatest risk factor for the disease. This report conveys the burden of Alzheimer's and dementia on individuals, families, government and the nation's healthcare system.

Get the Whole Report HERE. Some Highlights?

Today, 5.3 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease. But it’s only going to get worse — and fast.

With the aging of the baby boomers, the number of Americans with Alzheimer’s will likely reach 13.5 million in 2050 — and could be as high as 16 million.

Here is something you may not know.

Alzheimer’s disease is not just a little memory loss. It eventually kills you, but not before it takes everything away — slowly, gradually, painstakingly, inevitably.

Right now, we are losing the battle against Alzheimer’s disease. Death rates for other major diseases — HIV, stroke, heart disease, prostate cancer, breast cancer — are declining. Our country’s significant commitment to combat these conditions has saved lives.

Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States.

• The number of Americans that die each year from Alzheimer’s disease has risen 66 percent since 2000.

• Each year, Alzheimer’s kills more Americans than breast and prostate cancer combined.

• Alzheimer’s is the only disease in the top 10 causes of death in America without a way to prevent it, cure it or slow its progression.

• Death rates for other major diseases, including the number-one cause of death (heart disease), have declined — thanks to the government’s commitment to research.

This is why it is so important for us to continue to Research the causes, effects, and possible cures. We can either fund the Research NOW or we can pay for it later.

• In 2010, Alzheimer’s and other dementias cost American society — families, insurers and the government — $172 billion.

• In 2050, those costs will increase to over $1 trillion (in current dollars).

• Over the next 40 years, Alzheimer’s will cost America over $20 trillion, enough to pay off the national debt and still send a $20,000 check to every man, woman and
child in America.

• Between 2010 and 2050, the costs to Medicare of caring for someone with Alzheimer’s will increase over 600 percent — and the cost to families in out-of-pocket costs will grow more than 400 percent.

• A person with Alzheimer’s disease on average, costs Medicare three times more and costs Medicaid nine times more than someone without the disease.

So with this on the Horizon, the Government must be doing something about it, right? You know, they say an once of prevention is worth and ton of cure. Better to spend some money now than Trillions later. Right?

The federal government currently spends much less money on Alzheimer research, prevention and a cure than on other conditions such as cancer, heart disease and HIV — $6 billion for cancer, $4 billion for heart disease, $3 billion for HIV/AIDS. But just $480 million for Alzheimer’s disease.

$480 million for Alzheimer’s ? Rush Limbaugh raises over $3 million dollars, in 45 minutes, one time a year, for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. $3 Mil, from people just like you. In 45 minutes, ONE DAY a Year. The Government can spend $90 Billion in “programs that were deemed either ineffective, marginally adequate, or operating under a flawed purpose or design.” According to the White House in 2009, we can spend more than $480 million on Alzheimer’s Research. Cut some of those, and fund that which will cost us ALL much much more in the future. The Report, again you can get the whole thing HERE, wraps it up with this.

When it comes to Alzheimer’s disease, there are no Republicans or Democrats. It affects all of us, and with baby boomers aging, it is only going to get worse — and very fast.

There IS Hope.

Scientists believe we are on the verge of realizing that hope. The only unanswered questions are: Will we have the resources to push it over the edge and to make the difference? Will the federal government make the commitment to an innovative approach that will yield results, a return on our investment and the cure we so desperately need?

Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s disease. Let’s make Alzheimer’s disease a distant memory. This is a fight we can win.

Folks, I've been through it. Watching someone I love fade away. I'm about to go through it again with my Wife and her Family, in dealing with her Dad. I wish this on no one. It only makes sense to cut funding to stupid, useless, redundant, and FAILED Government Programs and START really funding the Research that will someday lead to help, and a cure for this Thief of the Mind, Body, and Soul.
Peter

Sources:
Opntalk - Alzheimer's Thief of the Mind. Part One
Alzheimer's Association - Boomer Report
Alzheimer's Association - Generation Alzheimer's
Bill Shrink.com - 12 Outrageous Wastes of Taxpayers’ Money