Online Alzheimer's Resources & Organizations

Alzheimer's. That word is probably more frightening than cancer because, while cancer can be treated, and in many cases cured, there's little that can be done for the Alzheimer's patient.

My mom's brother is in the middle stages of the disease and there's nothing worse than watching a physically healthy person whither away to the point that he sits in a chair for up to a half hour or more just sifting coins in his hands, puts two different shoes on, or worse when he can't even use the bathroom by himself.

And yet, its estimated that 4.5 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer's disease and since 1981, the number of people getting the disease has more than doubled. Experts think that the number of cases of Alzheimer's disease will continue to rise that by 2050, up to 16 million people could be suffering.

Like cancer, Alzheimer's disease affects nearly everyone in some way. 1 in 10 Americans say they have a family member with Alzheimer's and 1 in 3 know someone who has it.

What is Alzheimer's?

Slight memory loss with age is normal. Practically every senior has said, "My memory just isn't what it used to be", but Alzheimer's goes far beyond forgetting a few names and dates. Although the exact cause isn't yet known, Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disorder that gradually destroys a person's memory and ability to learn, communicate, reason and fulfill day-to-day tasks. Also, in some cases, major personality changes occur as the disease progresses. People have been known to become highly agitated, suspicious or suffer from hallucinations.

As mentioned, there currently is no cure for Alzheimer's but there are drugs and treatments due out soon that can slow down the disease's progression.

Who is at risk?

Generally, people grow more susceptible to Alzheimer's as they age. 1 in 10 people over the age of 65 and almost half of those over 65 are affected. There are extremely rare forms of the disease that target people in their 30s and 40s.

Along with the brain's degeneration, an Alzheimer's patient can be expected to live only about 8 years after the onset of the disease.

Warning signs

As stated earlier, some memory loss is natural with aging. Occasionally forgetting names or appointments is normal. However, if you, or someone you know, is starting to forget things they've just learned, or is forgetting more often, this can be a sign that something is wrong.

Also, it's normal to sometimes walk into a room and then forget why you're there, but if everyday tasks, like brushing teeth or preparing a meal, become increasingly difficult it should be taken seriously.

Everyone occasionally has trouble finding the right word, but people who are afflicted by Alzheimer's routinely forget simple words or substitute words, which makes them difficult to understand. An example would be someone can't find their shoes and asks for "those things for my feet".

Sometimes forgetting what day of the week it is or where you were headed is normal, but symptoms of Alzheimer's can be severe disorientation to times and places. It's not uncommon for someone suffering from Alzheimer's to get lost in their own neighborhood or even their own homes. It's been known for some people to be in the basement of their house and not know how to get back upstairs.

Where to go for help

Obviously the first thing you should do if you suspect your or someone you know is showing the symptoms of Alzheimer’s is to schedule a doctor’s visit as soon as possible.

Even though there’s currently no cure, there are new drugs that can help slow down the disease’s progression.

Information about Alzheimer’s is available in abundance online. One of the most informative resources is The Alzheimer’s Association, which can be found at www.alz.org .

Coping with a family or loved one who is suffering from Alzheimer’s can be a monumental challenge. It’s easy to become overwhelmed with grief and feelings of helplessness. Finding people to connect with who understand is what the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America is all about. In addition to the wealth of information about the disease and how to cope, they offer a free support line you can call if you need to talk. You can find them on the web at www.alzfdn.org.