Alzheimer's Facts

A recent report published by the Alzheimer's Association revealed the following facts:

-- As many as 5.2 million people in the US are currently living with Alzheimer's dementia.

-- Someone develops Alzheimer's every 71 seconds.

-- Alzheimer's is the 7th leading cause of death (after heart disease, cancer, stroke, chronic respiratory disease, accidents, and diabetes)

-- The cost of Alzheimer's is estimated to be $148 billion a year

-- The number of adults diagnosed with Alzheimer's is expected to at least triple by the year 2050 in developed countries.

-- The average duration between the onset of symptoms and death is about 8-10 years

-- There is currently no cure for Alzheimer's.  Some medications are thought to slow down the progression of the disease but they do not work for everyone.

For more information visit their website at www.alz.org

Fighting Dementia Should Start in Midlife

New research suggests that the fight to ward off dementia should begin in midlife.

Although most midlife adults are cognitively healthy, 10-15% begin to show some decline in their intellectual abilities.  Many of those have hypertension.  

Contrary to popular belief, cognitive decline is not inevitable as a person ages.  One important factor seems to be that people who believe they have control over their lives tend to be happier and better health than those who feel they are at the mercy of forces beyond their control.   

The reason for this seems to be that those who feel they have some control over their lives will take steps to ward off decline in memory and intellectual functioning more often than those who feel their efforts will come to nothing.  In addition, many people who feel they are declining and can do nothing about it often feel greater levels of stress and anxiety, which in turn can interfere with cognitive functioning.

The steps to ward off cognitive decline and keep your brain healthy are deceptively simple:  eat well, know your numbers (blood pressure, cholesterol, weight, etc), exercise daily, spend time with friends and loved ones, learn something new, and keep your levels of stress down.  

Easier said than done, no?

Alzheimer's and Finances

An article published in USA Today reports, "People who are in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease show rapid decline in their ability to manage their financial affairs."

Alzheimer's patients suffer from confusion and memory loss and lose their ability to manage their day to day affairs. Often this is one of the first signs noticed by family and friends.

Researchers gave early Alzheimer patients everyday financial tasks and found that they had some difficulty filling out checks or preparing a bill for the mail. One year later, these same adults showed even more decline in their ability to manage their finances.

Many Alzheimer's patients become the victim of fraud schemes by phone or by mail. I have seen several patients in recent months who have sent money to complete strangers after being told over the phone that they have won a sweepstakes or some other prize. The money is never recovered and this type of fraud is becoming more and more commonplace.

This research highlights the importance of being diagnosed in the early stages of dementia so you can still make decisions about your future. Early stage patients should make an appointment with a lawyer to outline how they want their affairs handled while they still can. Documents such as a Durable Power of Attorney allow family members to take over the management of a person's affairs when their disease renders them incapable of managing on their own.