From the Director
Alzheimer’s Association disease update
By Robert P. Dean
According to a report recently published by the Alzheimer’s Association, someone in America develops Alzheimer’s disease every 72 seconds.
Alzheimer’s is a progressive degenerative disorder that results in the loss of brain cells and begins with memory loss - particularly of new information. As the disease progresses, it causes confusion, impaired judgment, disorganized thinking, disorientation, and an inability to express one’s thoughts. There is no cure and the disease is ultimately fatal. Some of the warning signs for Alzheimer’s include difficulty performing familiar tasks, changes in mood or personality, forgetting recently learned information, misplacing things in inappropriate places, poor or decreased judgment, and disorientation to time and place. Alzheimer’s is a form of Dementia – a gradual and progressive decline in memory, thinking, and reasoning skills - and accounts for approximately 50 to 70% of all dementia cases. Other forms of dementia include Vascular, Lewy bodies, and Frontotemporal (Pick’s disease). Individuals who have Parkinson’s or Huntington’s disease may also develop dementia. Certain conditions such as depression, brain tumors, infections, drug reactions, and thyroid problems can also produce dementia-like symptoms.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association report, which is entitled, “Alzheimer ’s disease Facts and Figures, 2007”, the cause of Alzheimer’s remains unknown and is likely the result of multiple factors with the single greatest risk factor being advancing age. The report states that 4.9 million (or 96%) of the 5.1 million Americans estimated to have Alzheimer’s disease in 2007, are age 65 or older. One in eight Americans (or 13%) age 65 and over suffer from Alzheimer’s, while nearly half of those age 85 or older have the disease. Many of those who suffer from Alzheimer’s or a related disorder are undiagnosed. As the number of Americans age 60 and older continues to grow - the first of the Baby Boomers began to turn 60 in 2006 - so too will the number of Americans afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease. The Alzheimer’s Association report estimates that by 2030, more than 7.7 million seniors age 65 and older will have Alzheimer’s (an increase of 50% from 2007). Individuals with Alzheimer’s disease face an uncertain future, in which roles - including those of provider, caregiver, and advisor - may be reversed, and in which independence and identity may be lost. The average life expectancy of someone with Alzheimer’s is between 8 and 10 years although some people live considerably longer. Over the last several years, there has been a significant increase in the medical research of Alzheimer’s disease, and in the search for a cure. Although there is not yet a treatment that can delay or stop the deterioration of brain cells from the disease, medications that temporarily slow the worsening of symptoms for six to 12 months have been developed, and the search for a cure continues.
Although most families prefer to keep a loved one with Alzheimer’s at home - over 70% of those with Alzheimer’s live at home, with almost 75% of their care being provided by family and friends - the Alzheimer’s Association report states that caring for someone with the disease presents special challenges. As the disease progresses, individuals require increased levels of care, supervision, and provision for their safety. In advanced Alzheimer’s, individuals need assistance with bathing, dressing, using the bathroom, eating, and other day-to-day activities. Those in the final stages of the disease lose their ability to communicate, fail to recognize loved ones, and become bed-bound. Because the disease progresses slowly, caregivers tend to spend a long time in the caregiver role. The typical primary family caregiver for someone with Alzheimer’s is female in her 70s, and has two chronic health problems of her own. These caregivers may be providing 24 hour a day assistance to their loved ones with very little outside support, and may feel alone and disconnected. In many cases, they are reluctant to ask for help. As a result, they are often unable to complete household tasks, do errands, or get a break to care for their own needs.
If you know a family caregiver or someone with Alzheimer’s and would like to help, the Alzheimer’s Association has a number of suggestions, among them: keep in touch, include all family members in conversation (treat the person with Alzheimer’s the way you would want to be treated), be a good listener, encourage the caregiver to take care of him or herself, and offer to help in specific ways (including offering to provide a break so that the caregiver can run errands or have a little personal time). If you would like more information about Alzheimer’s and/or dementia, or caregiver supports, call Elder Services or visit The Richard and Rita Gallagher Alzheimer’s Resource Center at Elder Services on 66 Wendell Avenue in Pittsfield, or contact the Massachusetts Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association at 499-0691 or www.alzmass.org.
Robert P. Dean is Executive Director of Elder Services
