The Disease
How can Alzheimer’s be described? Yes, it is a disease of intense emotional and physical loss, but there are more sides that add to its complexity. It is an illness of walking contradictions, false hopes, mistaken identities, guilt-ridden laughs, simple pride, and sleepless nights. Though the final outcome is universal, the journey toward it is uniquely terrifying for each person. What someone forgets and when cannot be predicted, but the disease always continues, expunging one memory or skill at a time.
According to the Alzheimer's Association, over 5 million Americans have the disease, and that number is expected to grow. Studies predict that one in eight baby boomers will develop the disease in the next few decades (that is 10 million people). More startling than the fact that there is no cure is the research showing a growing mortality rate, especially when compared to other diseases. The rate of death from strokes, heart disease, and HIV all decreased by over 10% from 2000-2006, but people dying from Alzheimer's rose 46.1% during that same time period.
Alzheimer's is poised to wreak havoc on countless lives and medical costs in the coming decades, and it will eventually impact everyone in some way. Please, know the signs for early detection and do what you can to support research for a cure.
For more information/statistics, check out:
http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_facts_figures.asp
According to the Alzheimer's Association, over 5 million Americans have the disease, and that number is expected to grow. Studies predict that one in eight baby boomers will develop the disease in the next few decades (that is 10 million people). More startling than the fact that there is no cure is the research showing a growing mortality rate, especially when compared to other diseases. The rate of death from strokes, heart disease, and HIV all decreased by over 10% from 2000-2006, but people dying from Alzheimer's rose 46.1% during that same time period.
Alzheimer's is poised to wreak havoc on countless lives and medical costs in the coming decades, and it will eventually impact everyone in some way. Please, know the signs for early detection and do what you can to support research for a cure.
For more information/statistics, check out:
http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_facts_figures.asp
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