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