BY THE TIME you finish reading this column (depending on how carefully you read it) one more person in America will be diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
A new report from the Alzheimer's Association says that every 70 seconds someone is diagnosed with this devastating disease. It's the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S.
According to the report, "2010 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures," more than 5.3 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's, including 86,000 right here in Maryland. That number is expected to rise to 100,000 statewide by 2025.
Cathy Hanson, program coordinator for the Alzheimer's Association, Western Maryland Region (part of the Greater Maryland Chapter), was on Capitol Hill recently to muster support for Alzheimer's research. She and some locals facing the challenges of the disease, met with Sen. Barbara Mikulski to discuss the need for better treatment and funding Alzheimer's research.
In July, Mikulski introduced the Alzheimer's Breakthrough Act of 2009, which would increase funding for Alzheimer's research at the National Institutes of Health from $400 million to $2 billion. "It would make Alzheimer's a priority at the National Institute on Aging," Hanson said. "There's a lot of support on Capitol Hill for this bill (S. 1492, H.R. 3286)."
The majority of the more than 5 million living with Alzheimer's and other dementias are whites. African-Americans and Hispanics are at higher risk of developing the disease; African-Americans are about two times more likely than whites to develop Alzheimer's or dementia, according to the report. Conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes are known risk factors and both are more common in African-Americans and Hispanics than whites, according to the report.
Hanson said Alzheimer's research is headed in the direction of considering the body as one unit, such as looking at any connections between cardio health and brain health.
The Western Maryland Chapter works with about 50 families in care coordination, funded by a grant from Frederick County government. The Family Care Coordination program provides in-home assessments and recommendations for families facing an Alzheimer's diagnosis. The association also has education programs, support groups and a 24/7 helpline.
There is no "magic age" of Alzheimer's onset, though 65 and older is used for tracking purposes, Hanson said. It's estimated that about 500,000 people under age 65 are living with Alzheimer's. Hanson said younger diagnosis can be attributed, in part, to better diagnosis methods and people seeking treatment earlier.
With baby boomers heading into the golden years, Hanson said Alzheimer's has the potential to bust federal medical care programs. The risk of developing Alzheimer's increases with age.
Alzheimer's destroys brain cells and causes memory changes, erratic behaviors and loss of body functions. "It slowly and painfully takes away a person's identity, ability to connect with others, think, eat, talk, walk and find his or her way home," said the Alzheimer's Association website. There is no treatment to cure, delay or stop progression of the disease.
The Alzheimer's Association has identified 10 signs to look for:
Memory loss that disrupts life; forgetting recently learned information or asking for the same information over and over.
Challenges in planning or solving problems.
Difficulty completing familiar tasks.
Confusion with time or place, including forgetting where you are or how you got there.
Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships.
New problems with words in speaking or writing.
Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps.
Decreased or poor judgment.
Withdrawal from work or social activities.
Changes in mood and personality.
"A diagnosis of Alzheimer's is scary, no question about it," Hanson said. "But there are ways to find joy and be all you can be for the day."
SOURCE: fredericknewspost
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