Alzheimer's Disease

     There are approximately 27 million people in the world with Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease is degenerative, and leads to death. Life expectancy is an average seven years from the time the disease is initially diagnosed. Early symptoms involve short-term memory loss and confusion. As the disease worsens, confusion, irritability, aggression, trouble with language and long-term memory loss occur. Research for a cure is ongoing. There are over 1,000 clinical trials planned for 2012.
     When you gaze upon the familiar face of a spouse, relative or friend who has Alzheimer's disease, your emotions and thoughts are affected profoundly. Often, tears come to your eyes. In response, depending on the stage of the disease, the patient may show an expression of concern for you.
     The patient's expression seems to say, "What did I do to make you sad?" Or, you may be asked, "Why are you crying?"
     How do you answer? What do you say? Your first response is a clumsy attempt to explain it. If it happens at another visit, you skip the answer, change the subject and talk about something that happened long ago. Perhaps you will make a connection. You try old popular songs or church music.
     At a later point in time, the patient's expression of concern for your tears will disappear completely and a blank stare will greet you as you attempt to engage in conversation. If you are lucky, you will get a "yes" or a "no" or a smile in reply to your questions about treatment and conditions at the nursing facility.
     Around this time you begin to realize that you are no longer recognized. It is heartbreaking.


Editor's note:
Please read New York Times editorial: A New Attack on Alzheimer's.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/21/opinion/a-new-attack-on-alzheimers.html?_r=1&ref=opinion
Alzheimer's Association at:  www.alz.org.
Reference: National Institute on Aging at:  www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers
Central New York Chapter of Alzheimer's Association:  www.alz.org/cny
The Long Goodbye:
http://www.pressconnects.com/article/20120915/NEWS01/309150051/Alzheimer-s-Long-goodbye-often-toughest-families?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE&nclick_check=1
Ithaca Journal article with references:
http://www.theithacajournal.com/article/20120928/NEWS01/309280057/Patients-family-struggle-Alzheimer-s?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE&nclick_check=1