JOAN’S BLOG – WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011 – WORLD ALZHEIMER’S DAY – WHAT DO YOU WANT THE WORLD TO KNOW?

Today is World Alzheimer’s Day. As I started to write this blog, I realized the one I wrote last year said everything I wanted to convey, so I am updating and reprinting it today with one change. I am asking you – If you were only allowed ONE fact about Alzheimer’s Disease to raise awareness, which fact would you choose. Which fact about Alzheimer’s Disease do you feel is most important for the uninformed to know and why? Please tell us on the Message Boards: Joan’s World Alzheimer Day Blog – What ONE fact about AD do you want the uninformed to know? Then call one person and tell them. Imagine how many people we could contact if each of us told one person, and they told one person, and so on.

UPDATE OF WORLD ALZHEIMER DAY BLOG –SEPTEMBER 2011: 

Today, September 21, 2011, is World Alzheimer’s Day. It is the day in which Alzheimer’s Associations and anyone connected with Alzheimer’s Disease try to raise awareness of the disease around the world.

You have probably read and heard about the statistics by now – the millions of people who have Alzheimer’s Disease, are going to get Alzheimer’s Disease, and the staggering amount of money it will cost. Click here for the facts, figures, and general information about World Alzheimer’s Day.

But after 8 years in the trenches, and 4 years writing this website, I think an important question to ask is – Why do we need to raise awareness of this disease and if you are not directly involved with it, who cares about it? Who should care? Why should they care? In my opinion, more important than all of the statistics and monetary implications, it is a quality of life issue.

If I can save ONE person from enduring the Hell on earth of misdiagnosis and misunderstanding by DOCTORS, caregivers, and families, then raising awareness is worth it. The longer the patient and caregiver live with misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, and misunderstood symptoms, the worse the quality of life is for both of them. With proper diagnosis, education, understanding, and the proper medications, although the outcome of the disease will be the same, there may be a longer period during which caregiver and patient can enjoy a better life. This is MY answer to who should care and why.

In the spring of 2009, I worked at an Alzheimer’s Fundraiser, and passed out flyers I had written, listing what I thought were the most important facts people did not know about Alzheimer’s Disease. In honor of World Alzheimer’s Day, I am listing it here, and asking you to print copies. If every person reading this, gives ONE copy to ONE person, I think it will be more important than any list of facts and statistics.

DISPELLING THE MYTHS OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE – IT IS NOT JUST A GRANDPARENT’S DISEASE.

Everyone is at risk for Alzheimer’s Disease, not just the elderly, and it is not a simple memory problem.

Being aware of 4 simple facts about Alzheimer’s Disease can extend the quality of life for patients and caregivers. The Alzheimer Spouse website, www.thealzheimerspouse.com wants to raise awareness of the disease by dispelling the myths of Alzheimer’s Disease. Physicians and the public need to know:

Alzheimer’s Disease is NOT normal aging. If the doctor dismisses concerns, a neurologist who specializes in Memory Disorders can be found in any area of the country by logging onto www.thealzheimerspouse.com and clicking the “Finding a Memory Disorders Clinic in Your Area”.  

Alzheimer’s Disease is NOT simple memory loss. It is a BRAIN DISEASE that destroys every part of the brain – behavior, personality, cognition, comprehension, physical abilities AND memory. It is 100% FATAL. There is NO CURE. There are NO SURVIVORS. 

Alzheimer’s Disease is NOT EXCLUSIVE TO THE ELDERLY. Early Onset Alzheimer’s Disease affects men and women UNDER the age of 65, and many in their 40’s and 50’s. It is misdiagnosed as everything from depression, stress, early menopause in women to Attention Deficit Disorder. If you think your loved one has possible dementia, regardless of age, contact a Memory Disorders Specialist for comprehensive testing.  

Aricept and Namenda can help with the symptoms and stabilize the person with Alzheimer’s Disease, for up to 2 years, but they CANNOT CURE IT. THEY CANNOT STOP IT.

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The Alzheimer Spouse LLC
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