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Dealing with Alzheimer’s
Facts About Alzheimer's Disease
In Recognition of Alzheimer's Awareness Month, December, 2000
Alzheimer's Disease is a progressive, degenerative disease of the brain, and the most common form of dementia.
Approximately 4 million Americans have Alzheimer's Disease. Unless a cure or prevention is found, that number will increase to 14 million by 2050.
One in 10 persons over 65 and nearly half of those over 85 have Alzheimer's disease. A small percentage of people as young as their 30s and 40 get the disease.
Alzheimer's Disease costs the U.S. at least $100 billion a year. Neither Medicare nor most private health insurance covers the long-term care most patients need.
More than 7 of 10 people with Alzheimer's Disease live at home. Almost 75 percent of home care is provided by family and friends. The remainder is paid care costing an average of $12,500 per year. Families pay almost entire amount out-of-pocket.
Half of all nursing home residents suffer from Alzheimer's Disease related disorder. The average cost for nursing home care is $42,000 year but can exceed $70,000 per year in some areas of the country.
The Alzheimer's Association has granted more than $82 million dollars in research grants to date.
The federal government estimates spending approximately $466 million dollars for Alzheimer's Disease research in 2000.
For additional information contact:
The Alzheimer's Association
919 No. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1100
Chicago, IL 50511-1676
Phone: (800) 272-3900
URL: http://www.alz.org.
Alzheimer's Disease & Related Disorders
Northern Nevada Chapter
P.O. Box 6362
Reno, NV 89513-6362
Office: 705 South Wells Avenue, #225
Reno, NV 89502
Toll Free: (800) 779-5711
Phone: (775) 786-8061
Fax: (775) 786-1920
Serving Northern Nevada residents of: Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Elko, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lyon, Pershing, Storey, Washoe, White Pine counties.
Dispelling Alzheimer's Disease Myths
1. Myth: Memory loss is a natural part of aging.
Reality: Yes and no. All of us have forgotten where we parked the car or the name of an acquaintance at one time or another. And many healthy individuals are less able to remember certain kinds of information as they get older.
The symptoms of Alzheimer's disease are much more severe than such simple memory lapses. Alzheimer's symptoms affect communication, learning, thinking and reasoning, and can have an irnpact on a person's work and social life.
2. Myth: Alzheimer's Disease is hereditary.
Reality: Alzheimer's Disease occurs in two forms: early-onset and late-onset. The early-onset form of the disease is very rare and mainly affects people in their 30s, 40s and 50s. This form of the disease has been linked to three different genes and has been observed in only 120 families worldwide; individuals who carry one of the early-onset gene most likely develop Alzheimer's Disease.
Much more common is the late-onset form of the disease, which occurs after age 65 and accounts for more than 90 percent of all cases of Alzheimer's. It is unclear whether a genetic abnormality, environmental factors or a combination of both causes this form of the disease.
What is known for certain is that a person's risk of developing Alzheimer's at any given age appears to increase if he or she has an immediate relative with the disease, such as a brother, sister, or parent.
3. Myth: Alzheimer's is not fatal.
Reality: Alzheimer's Disease is a fatal, progressive and degenerative disease that attacks the brain and results in impaired memory, thinking and behavior Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia.
Dementia is a loss of intellectual function (thinking, remembering and reasoning) so that it interferes with an individual daily functioning and eventually results in death.
4. Myth: Drinking out of aluminum cans or cooking in aluminum pots and pans can lead to Alzheimer's.
Reality: Based on current research, getting rid of aluminum cans, pots and pans will not protect you from Alzheimer's Disease. Aluminum is one of 90 naturally occurring chemical elements. It is the third most common element found in the earth's crust, after oxygen and silicon. The focus of ongoing research is to clarify how aluminum affects the body and whether it is a factor in Alzheimer's Disease.
The exact role (if any) of aluminum in Alzheimer's Disease is still being researched and debated. However, most researchers believe that not enough evidence exists to consider aluminum a risk factor for Alzheimer's or a cause of dementia.
5. Myth: There are therapies available to stop the progression Alzheimer's.
Reality: At this time, there is no medical treatment to cure or stop the progression of Alzheimer's Disease. In the United States, two drugs that may temporarily relieve some symptoms of the disease have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration: tacrine (also known as Cognex®) and donepezl (also known as Aricept®). A third drug, rivastigmine (Exelon®), is expected to be available sometime this year.
Source: http://www.alz.org and healthybuzz: A Publication of the Vitamin Shoppe™
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