The Devastation of Alzheimer's - Is That Our Fate Too?

A friend of mine posted on Face Book that her Mom had just passed away after a nine year battle with Alzheimer’s disease. The natural grief and sorrow she was experiencing was made more poignant by her statements of the slow loss of her Mom throughout the course of the disease. Alzheimer’s disease is insidious. The slow decline into death is extremely painful for everyone. A word of warning to Boomers – we are next! Do you want your children to experience this same kind of pain? Do you want the disease of Alzheimer’s to be the legacy you leave behind?

Let me review some of the facts and figures about Alzheimer’s disease so that you understand why we are next:

• More than 5 million Americans now live with the disease.

• By 2050 people 65 years old and older who have Alzheimer’s disease may triple from 5 million to 16 million.

• It is the 6th leading cause of death in the US.

• In her 60’s, a woman’s estimated lifetime risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease is 1 in 6. The risk for breast cancer in this group is 1 in 11. There are successful treatments for breast cancer. Women are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease as they are of developing breast cancer.

• Men’s chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease is 1 in 11.

• Alzheimer’s disease is the most expensive disease in the nation. Direct costs in 2014 were $214 billion (that is with a B) including $150 billion (again, a B) in costs to Medicare and Medicaid.

Our federal government is upset about the costs of Medicare and Medicaid – now. With 10,000 Boomers turning 65 every day the magnitude of the cost of this disease are haunting everyone. By 2050 Alzheimer’s disease could very well cost the US $1.2 trillion (and that is with a T). Instead of trying to find ways to cut costs in the Medicare and Medicaid programs, out legislators should be finding ways to fund research to stop this epidemic.

Boomers were not a group to sit around and become victims to circumstances. Maybe this is the cause we will rally around and fight for. We certainly will be the direct beneficiaries of new breakthroughs. We were always vocal about social injustice when we were young. Our sheer numbers gave us attention and clout to make things happen. This disease won’t wait for us to see if a treatment or cure is found. We need to raise our voices again and draw attention to the devastation of this disease now and in the future. Right now we need to take ownership of this disease and take responsibility for our own fate. There actually is valid research to support the value of a brain healthy lifestyle in delaying the onset of dementia. This lifestyle encompasses physical exercise; mental stimulation; nutrition; socialization; and, spirituality. I will start to detail these categories in later blog posts and newsletter articles. This is something we can do and must do to ensure that our brain stays healthy until we die. Then hopefully our children won’t experience the devastating pain of Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s Association 2014 Alzheimer’s Facts and Figures

Have questions or interested in learning more?

Contact Pat at patricia@myboomerbrain.com

#Boomers #Alzheimers