When I was a little girl, my great-grandmother, who adored me as I did her, started showing signs of Alzheimer’s disease in her late 80’s.
I had moved away from her before the signs were observable, but I do know that last time I saw her, she did not know who I was. When we visited her in the nursing home she told us she had just been out gardening with her husband Jack (who had passed away 20 years earlier). It was hard to see someone that you care about lose all sense of time and their memory. To this day, I clearly remember playing dominos with her, walking through her neighborhood in Portland, Oregon and her spunky attitude before Alzheimer’s changed everything.
Over the next 50 years the incidence of Alzheimer’s is predicted to multiply exponentially as a result of increased life expectancy. My mom recently watched this video courtesy of TED concerning this growing problem. She suggested I watch it as well since the group that is often the most affected is the adult kids whose parents are sufferers. We all want our parents to live forever, but that would include them being mentally aware.
If you are in your 30’s or 40’s like I am, it is easy to disregard this issue if it is not knocking on your door at the moment, but with all the talk about social security and medicare’s future all of us need to do everything we can to ensure we will benefit from what we contribute now. According to experts, all money possibly available later through medicare would be needed just for Alzheimer’s. And, we all know that is not the only medical issue we might face. Most of us think cancer or heart disease. The financial repercussions are amazing. The amount of money needed in the care and the lost wages is phenomenal. Check out these statistics at the Alzheimer’s Prevention Initiative site.
Not only can you possibly help prevent facing this disease by practicing activities that keep you healthy, both mentally and physically (watch the video), you can also head over to register to support the cause. At API, they know that the more support the better. If we all stay connected up – it will make a difference, so please join their online community.
Familial Alzheimer’s disease, the kind you inherit, is very rare. Sporadic Alzheimer’s disease, where genes don’t matter, is the type we are all susceptible to. I think it would be nice to know I have done whatever I can to support this cause. Please join in. It is super easy and you will enjoy the satisfaction of knowing you are participating more than any bargain I can post about.
Has someone in your life been touched by Alzheimer’s? Do you know of someone whose life has been? Spread the word!!
This blog post was written while participating in campaign with the BOOMboxNetwork.com on behalf Alzheimer’s Prevention Initiative and I received payment for my participation. I participated in this campaign as it is a subject that is important to me and all opinions are 100% my own.
The loss of another generation must not happen! Alzheimers registry is a good start!
Thanks for sharing your experience with this devastating disease.
I don’t know anyone affected with Alzheimer’s, but I know it is becoming more common these days. Thank you for sharing your story and for the information.
Alzheimere’s can be such a devastating disease. Thanks for sharing info on such a great cause. I really hope they further research to find more prevention tips!
Alzheimers is so heartbreaking. Both my grandparents suffered with it. I remember watching them deteriorate away. It was so hard to see. And now my own Mom has it. It is killing me seeing my Mom disappear.