This month’s blog will be brief, in order to emphasize current data as we recognize Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month in June. Below you will find 4 videos between 2013 and 2016, reflecting the Alzheimer’s Association’s yearly endeavor to spread awareness by publishing current facts and figures. If you start with 2013 and jump immediately to 2016, you will find how drastically altered the numbers are within just a 4 year span of time. For example, the cost to our nation for Alzheimer’s (and other forms of dementia) went up 33 billion in just 4 years time, and by 2030, over 76 million baby boomers will be at risk.
As mentioned in previous blogs, one of the reasons federal and National Institute of Health (NIH) funding for this disease still falls short is due to the disclosure percentage. We know there are hundreds of thousands out there with dementia, and they are not only missing a proper diagnosis (only 45% disclosure rate v cancer at 90%), but we also have cause of death reports labeled as cardiac arrest for these patients, instead of organ failure caused by Alzheimer’s Disease (hospital ERs lack background files for confirmation). Therefore, our nation’s top neurologists and Alzheimer’s experts have deduced and believe that this disease is the 3rd leading cause of death, as opposed to 6th as reported. This is the only disease among the top 10 that cannot be cured, slowed down, or prevented scientifically in any way.
As mentioned in previous blogs, one of the reasons federal and National Institute of Health (NIH) funding for this disease still falls short is due to the disclosure percentage. We know there are hundreds of thousands out there with dementia, and they are not only missing a proper diagnosis (only 45% disclosure rate v cancer at 90%), but we also have cause of death reports labeled as cardiac arrest for these patients, instead of organ failure caused by Alzheimer’s Disease (hospital ERs lack background files for confirmation). Therefore, our nation’s top neurologists and Alzheimer’s experts have deduced and believe that this disease is the 3rd leading cause of death, as opposed to 6th as reported. This is the only disease among the top 10 that cannot be cured, slowed down, or prevented scientifically in any way.
What can we do? We need to talk about it, and we need to seek a diagnosis no matter how hard it is to get our loved ones into the doctor. Unfortunately, due to the shortage of neurologists and geriatricians qualified to diagnose Alzheimer’s, it is even more difficult to attain an appointment than ever before, and it will continue to be a problem as numbers skyrocket. From personal shared experiences, patients are waiting 6 months to a year on average to be seen by a qualified doctor. Even then, the blood tests, biochemical biomarkers, brain imaging like MRIs and PET scans (magnetic resonance imaging and positron-emission tomography), neuropsychology tests and clinical interviews – all these items can be used to test into 1 of 7 stages. It can be overwhelming, but that’s why we have the Alzheimer’s Association providing their gracious support at 1-800-272-3900 and www.alz.org
Finally, one of the best things you can do is donate information if you are a descendant of someone with Alzheimer’s. Please consider looking into contributing in this way through TrialMatch. People sometimes assume undergoing genetic testing means you want to find out if you have one of the genes responsible for the disease, but you DO have the option of finding out or not. If preferred, the doctors leave that confidential and at your discretion completely, but the point is that you helped by making your information available to researchers which holds more power than you realize!
#EndAlz #Alzheimers
Finally, one of the best things you can do is donate information if you are a descendant of someone with Alzheimer’s. Please consider looking into contributing in this way through TrialMatch. People sometimes assume undergoing genetic testing means you want to find out if you have one of the genes responsible for the disease, but you DO have the option of finding out or not. If preferred, the doctors leave that confidential and at your discretion completely, but the point is that you helped by making your information available to researchers which holds more power than you realize!
#EndAlz #Alzheimers
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