The Fight to End Alzheimer ’s Should Start Earlier Than You Think

By SHANNON HALLOWAY & MELISSA KALENSKY A patient walked into clinic wearing only a hospital gown, feet bare and EKG wires trailing. Just hours after having surgery, his dementia had prompted him to wander out of the hospital and walk two miles to proudly show off his new surgical scar to a familiar face. Physically unharmed, his heart was easy to fix but his memory was beyond repair. Though the road to a cure has long seemed insurmountable, dementia advocates have recently found reason to celebrate. Scientists announced this week the development of a new tool that may help identify people who are prone to Alzheimer’s disease, and Bill Gates has made a 100 million dollar pledge to join the fight. These vital research dollars give renewed hope to millions of families who already realize that by the time any kind of dementia is diagnosed, treatment options are incredibly limited. With no current cure, prevention should be the primary focus but often remains ignored until it’s too late. Commonly  termed “memory loss,” Alzheimer’s disease is actually a progressive death of nerve cells with associated decline in memory and function.  As more of the brain is affected as Alzheimer’s disease progresses, patients increasingly rely on caregivers, usually devoted family members.  Over 5.5 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, costing our nation $259 billion, and leading to immeasurable physical and emotional toll in patients and caregivers alike. Al...
Source: The Health Care Blog - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Uncategorized Alzheimer's Dementia prevention Source Type: blogs