I felt so close to Larry and admired him so much, that I had failed to even consider dementia as a possibility. I didn't want either of us to go through that pain. There are treatments, even cures, for depression, paranoia and obsessive-compulsive disorder. But we only had symptomatic treatments for dementia that could help for a while. Eventually, every patient got worse and succumbed to the disease ... My psyche wouldn't allow me to consider the worst--that he could literally be losing his mind--even though it was right in front of me. Unconsciously I must have feared that if someone like Larry could get dementia, then so could I.
--From "The Naked Lady Who Stood on Her Head: A Psychiatrist's Stories of His Most Bizarre Cases"
I know that my sense of helplessness about Larry's illness is shared by many who witness those they care about develop Alzheimer's disease. Advances in medical technology have allowed people to live longer. The average American woman can expect to live to age 79, while the average man may anticipate living to 72. In addition to these gains in life expectancy, 80 million baby boomers--people born between 1946 and 1964--are entering the age of concern, and age is the greatest risk factor for developing dementia. For people age 65 years and older, the risk of getting the disease approaches 10 percent; for those 85 years or older, that risk nears 50 percent. So we're living longer, but not necessarily better--we're facing an epidemic of Alzheimer's disease in the next decade.
Just mentioning the "A" word evokes fear and dread in baby boomers who have seen the illness afflict their parents' generation. This most common form of age-related mental decline has an insidious onset of symptoms that seem to sneak up on victims so gradually that it's almost imperceptible. Initially mistaken for normal age-related forgetfulness, the short-term memory lapses slowly become so disruptive that patients can no longer care for themselves. Eventually it not only destroys memory and thinking abilities, but patients have a change in personality -- often becoming agitated, aggressive, paranoid and psychotic. Families become unable to care for them at home, and they can end up in long-term care facilities.
The age wave of seniors at risk for Alzheimer's disease is not just a U.S. phenomenon. A considerable economic burden augments the emotional and practical challenges we face worldwide. According to the Alzheimer's Disease International report on the global economic impact of dementia, the estimated worldwide costs in 2010 of both informal care (from unpaid family members and others) and the direct costs of medical and other social care totals $604 billion. This figure accounts for approximately one percent of the world's gross domestic product. If caring for dementia were a company, its annual revenue would exceed that of Wal-Mart ($414 billion).
Scientists are searching for more effective treatments, and many of us have focused on developing early detection tools, using brain scans and blood tests so that we might be able to develop a vaccine or medication that lowers an individual's future risk or can stave off the onset of symptoms. But we don't yet have an anti-dementia drug that eradicates the mental symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, the way an antidepressant medicine may help someone with major depression live a normal life or an antibiotic can cure a pneumonia. This lack of a disease-modifying treatment is what accounts for the fear factor that makes it hard for people to face the reality of the diagnosis.
To deal with this coming epidemic, dementia needs to become a health priority. We need to invest in research to discover more effective treatments. Data from the UK suggests that we need a 30-fold increase in funding to reach parity with cancer research. We also need to overcome our fear of the disease and get proactive in seeking care. Often patients and families wait until the patient is in the moderate to severe stage of the illness before seeking a doctor's care. Although current treatments have only temporary effects, they can make a tremendous impact on the lives of patients and their families, reducing the costs of other medical care and keeping patients in their homes, functioning at higher levels, for much longer. In my experience, the earlier people get help, the better their overall outcome.
I couldn't cure my friend's Alzheimer's disease, but I was able to help him with his symptoms. He started medicines early, made plans for his future while he still could, and enjoyed his life while his mental faculties held up. I only wish I could have offered him more. Perhaps the realization of the coming epidemic will motivate us to overcome our fear and denial, and invest in a solution. What do you think?
Follow me on Twitter at drgarysmall.
See my new book, "The Naked Lady Who Stood on Her Head: A Psychiatrist's Stories of His Most Bizarre Cases."
Follow Gary W. Small, M.D. on Twitter: www.twitter.com/@drgarysmall
Theres a ton of info on this on the web too if anyone is interested.
Alzheimer's disease has increased five fold in those over 65, and 12 fold in those under 65 in the past fifty years, despite medical advancements and tripling of our standard of living. By the year 2050, an estimated 40% of 65 year olds are likely to reach 90. Most Americans reaching 65 today have Clinical Predictors of Alzheimer’s Disease. There are clinical predictors that can greatly increase your likelihood of getting Alzheimer’s or decreasing your likelihood.
I want to share this helpful article about the clinical predictors of Alzheimer's Disease that can hopefully help in the prevention of Alzheimer's Disease: http://www.ladolceliving.com/medical-conditions/is-it-alzheimer-s.html
“So we're living longer, but not necessarily better--we're facing an epidemic of Alzheimer's disease in the next decade.”
We are not only facing an epidemic of Alzheimer's disease in the next decade but for the last three decades, we are witnessing the epidemic of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease.
The rising trend of incidences of Dementia including Alzheimer's disease can’t be attributed to the small increase in relative life span.
Quote:
“Advances in medical technology have allowed people to live longer.”
The rising standard of living is responsible for the increase in relative life span. As the relative life span has increased in last a few decades, (I am not sure but) it seems to me that the absolute life span has decreased. (More people are reaching 80 years of age and on the other hand, less people reaching 90 years of age).
Luke Tunyich
BiomechanicsandHealth.com
Anyway, there is a lot of research beyond what you hear about in the news.
funding for research should be directed to practitioners of alternative medicine or integrative , functional medicine , mind/body medicine , information and energy medicine
i had commented about a previous blog about Alzheimer : it isnt a disease ,it is like damage ; sickness doctors can manage but damage [ entropy ] needs something deeper than the biochemical level doctors are on
the comment it isnt a disease it is damage wasnt posted by the moderator
Director
Cellular Matrix Study
Body Human Project est. 1999 }} posted comment on another huffpost blog about ALZ indicating sulphur deficiency as a cause of alzheimer. i dont know if this has been researched by anyone
maybe DR Hyman etc has info about this and other essential " organic " minerals+ vitamins needed for brain health
DR Hyman's blog today about need for a healthy gut in order to remain healthy maybe helpfull
some years ago L-Dopa bean from india was recommended but doubts about whether it could cross the blood brain barrier
whether the book " dying for a hamburger " is right; i dont know
someone in england [ a organic farmer and scientists he hired ] had linked mad cow to organophosphate fertilizer which caused the neccessary copper in prions to be replaced by manganese
for someone with money maybe $600 per day go to Lancaster Mass. or Fairfield Iowa Maharishi ayur veda clinic for vast improvement in quality of life
several MDs who are maharishi Ayur Veda experts are teaching ayur veda to other MDs
the most cost effective program for overall health and well being in any situation is Transcendental meditation (TM) ;'
MDs and PHDs can testify to this : http://www.doctorsontm.org/ on the basis of research and experience
For those who are at risk or have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or other degenerative diseases, Healthy Aging Clinic Boston has extremely accurate and precise methods of early detection, treatment, and real-time monitoring of treatment efficacy. We are particularly skilled at detecting and treating latent disease.
For more info, visit: http://bit.ly/Healthy-Aging
The website focuses on those suffering from Alzheimers disease and Dementia, Alzheimers caregivers, and the art of Alzheimers caregiving.
100 Million people have been touched by Alzheimer's disease, and 35 million are worried about Alzheimer's.
http://www.alzheimersreadingroom.com/2010/02/about-alzheimers-reading-room.html
a panel of experts testified that toxins in the environment are the cause of the explosion in the autism rate. Still, millions are spent looking for the genes that supposedly cause autism. Toxins seem to be affecting the most vulnerable--the elderly and the youngest among us--yet no one considers this a health care emergency.
Anne Dachel, Media editor: Age of Autism