From the Director
The fight against Alzheimer’s disease continues...
By Robert P. Dean
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. According to a 2008 report published by the Alzheimer’s Association, 10 million baby boomers will develop Alzheimer’s disease over the next several years.
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. Alzheimer’s is not a normal part of aging. There is no cure and the disease is ultimately fatal. Alzheimer’s is the fifth leading cause of death for Americans age 65 and older. 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 entitled, “Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures, 2008," the cause of Alzheimer’s remains unknown and is likely the result of multiple factors with the single greatest risk factor being advancing age. Most Americans with Alzheimer’s disease are age 65 or older, although individuals younger than 65 can also develop the disease. The report states that 5 million of the 5.2 million Americans estimated to have Alzheimer’s disease are age 65 or older. One in eight Americans (or 13%) age 65 and over suffers from Alzheimer’s. Someone in America develops Alzheimer’s disease every 71 seconds. The report estimates that by 2030, more than 7.7 million seniors age 65 and older will have Alzheimer’s disease, 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. Many of those who suffer from Alzheimer’s or a related disorder are undiagnosed.
Almost 10 million Americans provide 8.4 billion hours of unpaid care for a person with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia according to the 2008 report. Although these unpaid caregivers are primarily family members they may also include friends and neighbors. Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s 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.
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 have been developed. Additionally, studies have shown that active medical management of Alzheimer’s and other dementias, including appropriate use of available treatment options and utilization of supportive services, can significantly improve the quality of life through all stages of the disease for the diagnosed and their caregivers. According to the 2008 report, a growing body of evidence suggests that the health of the brain is closely linked to the overall health of the heart and blood vessels, and that management of cardiovascular risk factors such as high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and overweight, may help avoid or delay cognitive decline. Evidence also points to the importance of regular physical exercise to maintain lifelong cognitive health.
Each year the Alzheimer’s Association sponsors a nationwide Memory Walk to raise awareness of and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support, and research. Here in Berkshire County, almost 400 people will participate in this year’s walk along the Ashuwillticook Trail in Cheshire on September 13 at 9 a.m. 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.alz.org/ma.
Robert P. Dean is Executive Director of Elder Services.
