Science
& Culture Corner
Hope on the Horizon for Alzheimer's
Sufferers
The stress on the family is great. "She forgets my name and calls me by my sister's name," said junior high student, Chelsie Noonan of her aunt. "Every time I forget anything or have a headache I suddenly worry if I've now got it," said a brother [it is inheritable]. "And this never stops. The stress and worry is every day," he continued.
According to the Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's is "a progressive, degenerative disease of the brain, and the most common form of dementia." Their use of the word "progressive" means that its effects worsen with time. In this it differs from normal aging processes such as short-term memory loss in that it is "degenerative," often causing severe problems, which can include loss of language and other intellectual abilities.
Although symptoms vary in their severity, they can reach the point where total care is required for every aspect of life. Neurons, under the disease, lose their ability to communicate with other neurons. Alzheimer's is listed as the fourth place killer of Americans and the third most expensive disease afflicting some four million people in the U.S. alone.
Not by any means a problem unique to the U.S., Alzheimer's Disease International has calculated there are "roughly 18 million people with dementia in the world" and that "12 million of these are cases of Alzheimer's." This represents about three percent of the world's over-60 population. Over the next 25 years, this figure is expected to rise from 18 to 34 million.
While a cure may well be found eventually, most research now in progress is aimed at discovering its cause. First clearly identified in 1906/7 by German neuropathologist, Alois Alzheimer, thus its name, it has undoubtedly existed for thousands of years.
Although there are many suspects, mostly chemical or genetic rather than viral, it is probably fair to say that most researchers believe currently that its occurrence is a function of multiple factors. In this scenario, a genetic (inherited) factor may combine with one or more chemical factors wherein the combination begins the degenerative process. This AND Gate Theory of multiple factors working together, greatly complicates the research.
Still, in the words of respected specialist, Dr. Donald Marks, neurologist, "Medical technology is expanding, not contracting" and there should be "a substantive treatment for Alzheimer's in five to ten years." Dr. Marks has also had success using drugs such as aricept, which can, in many cases, delay the manifestation of its progressive effects "by one to two years."
Managed health care plans have been resistant to doctors' efforts to slow the progression of the disease using available drugs because of the expense. It is all of us, as society, who must address the question of how much we are willing to pay in taxes and premiums for extended care of the long-term and terminally ill. New drugs are under experimentation and aricept has already been shown effective. If someone you love has signs of Alzheimer's, be sure they see specialists who are keeping up with these new treatments. There is reason for hope.
by Angel
Stephens
angel_stephens@hotmail.com
SPECIAL
FEATURE
Human Rights Falling
Through the Cracks in Japan
Japan "Justice" Ministry tearing Japanese children apart from gaijin dad