It's National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month

The month of Nov is set aside as National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, writes McKnight’s, and hence it’s a time to remember those impacted by the disease and continue to drive the fires of medical research to aid in future prevention. The number of individuals with the disease is expected to skyrocket over the next few years. Thus, keeping a steady stream of money trained on research and prevention is essential.

Alzheimer’s disease possibly a $20 trillion problem

The piece "The Age of Alzheimer’s" by the NY Times explains that baby boomers will start getting higher chances for Alzheimer’s starting Jan 1 when a baby boomer will turn 65 each and every eight seconds. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor has a husband who has Alzheimer’s and explains that means more than 4 million each year will end up with the disease. The risk could possibly be eliminated by simply looking into more drugs that could combat the disease. The Nationwide Institutes of health explain that Americans will pay a ton for Alzheimer’s patients. By 2020, the amount paid in taxes for this can be $172 billion. By 2050, the number ends up being $20 trillion.

Action is evidently needed to reverse the trend, which is what National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month is about. Alzheimer’s researchers see major medical breakthroughs being possible by 2020 however not without the needed funds. O'Conner from the Times explains that a $2 billion bill for Alzheimer’s disease research is something Congress had been asked to create legislation for.

Facts about Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer's disease is currently incurable. It’s just a bit of dementia. The disease is given to some terminally as they are over 65. Typically everyone younger is not given the disease. The first symptoms just look like an individual can't form new memories. Anything most recently taking place is hard to remember. A related condition called sundown syndrome – extreme agitation and disorientation that occurs within the later afternoon or early evening – is common among Alzheimer’s patients, writes the Alzheimer’s Disease Support blog. Ultimately that person will die after confusion, mood swings, language breakdown, long term memory loss and loss of bodily functions all sets in. These are other symptoms. You need to be comprehending and caring with an Alzheimer'! s patient. This is very important. Yet the process of care can be almost as debilitating, particularly when family members and loved ones take on the responsibility of in-home care.

Articles cited

Alzheimer's Disease support

alzheimers-disease.net/2010/02/15/sundown-syndrome-and-alzheimer's-disease/

McKnights

mcknights.com/alzheimers-awareness-month-sheds-spotlight-on-treatment-prevention-efforts/article/189888/

NY Times

nytimes.com/2010/10/28/opinion/28oconnor.html

Don’t forget National Memory Screening Day on Nov. 17

youtube.com/watch?v=lwlddM3r9IE