Alzheimer’s Disease to Affect 16 Million Americans
They say Dementia could be the worst that could happen to any human being. Although it may not cause similar physical pain as the big C or other lethal diseases, Dementia does trigger immeasurable anguish both to the afflicted individuals and to all the people who love them. It robs a person of their capability to normally function in the world, but most especially, it takes away the treasured memories gathered over a lifetime.
The most common cause of dementia is a disease called Alzheimer’s Disease. Though there are several types and causes of dementia, Alzheimer’s is the most rampant that is responsible for 60 to 80% of dementia cases today.
What qualifies as dementia, you say? Well, apart a from the obvious memory loss and inability to do normal and daily tasks compared to a healthy person, people who suffer from dementia also suffer any or all of the following symptoms, depending on the advancing stage he or she is in:
Lowered ability to identify objects despite medically proven full functioning sensory organs
Loss of dexterity and precision in physical movements despite medically proven full functioning motor systems
Noticeable speech impairment and decreased ability to understand verbal or written language
Inability to accomplish multi-faceted tasks and lowered ability to make decisions
Today, there is an estimated 5 million Alzheimer-inflicted patients in America. This is expected to jump to 7.7 million by the year 2030.
Ironically, positive developments in medicine and medical technology concerning extended life span have greatly contributed to the growing numbers of the Alzheimer’s spread. Not only is America caught in that stage where the baby boom generation is all aging at the same time, but somehow, the brilliant doctors and scientists have also found medical solutions to keep people alive longer. Regardless of the fact that this increased life expectancy is a good thing in general, let us not forget that more years to a life also means more years for Alzheimer’s to completely exhibit its detrimental effects on an individual.
A study done by the Alzheimer’s Association in the year 2000 showed that during that one single year, about 411,000 new Alzheimer cases were detected. This estimated annual figure is expected to increase by 11% (approximately 454,000) by the year 2050. So, unless scientists and doctors can finally find a way to prevent and cure this devastating illness, afflicted patients will be in an estimated 11 to 16 million American population by the year 2050. Terrifying, but certainly true.
They say Dementia could be the worst that could happen to any human being. Although it may not cause similar physical pain as the big C or other lethal diseases, Dementia does trigger immeasurable anguish both to the afflicted individuals and to all the people who love them. It robs a person of their capability to normally function in the world, but most especially, it takes away the treasured memories gathered over a lifetime.
The most common cause of dementia is a disease called Alzheimer’s Disease. Though there are several types and causes of dementia, Alzheimer’s is the most rampant that is responsible for 60 to 80% of dementia cases today.
What qualifies as dementia, you say? Well, apart a from the obvious memory loss and inability to do normal and daily tasks compared to a healthy person, people who suffer from dementia also suffer any or all of the following symptoms, depending on the advancing stage he or she is in:
Lowered ability to identify objects despite medically proven full functioning sensory organs
Loss of dexterity and precision in physical movements despite medically proven full functioning motor systems
Noticeable speech impairment and decreased ability to understand verbal or written language
Inability to accomplish multi-faceted tasks and lowered ability to make decisions
Today, there is an estimated 5 million Alzheimer-inflicted patients in America. This is expected to jump to 7.7 million by the year 2030.
Ironically, positive developments in medicine and medical technology concerning extended life span have greatly contributed to the growing numbers of the Alzheimer’s spread. Not only is America caught in that stage where the baby boom generation is all aging at the same time, but somehow, the brilliant doctors and scientists have also found medical solutions to keep people alive longer. Regardless of the fact that this increased life expectancy is a good thing in general, let us not forget that more years to a life also means more years for Alzheimer’s to completely exhibit its detrimental effects on an individual.
A study done by the Alzheimer’s Association in the year 2000 showed that during that one single year, about 411,000 new Alzheimer cases were detected. This estimated annual figure is expected to increase by 11% (approximately 454,000) by the year 2050. So, unless scientists and doctors can finally find a way to prevent and cure this devastating illness, afflicted patients will be in an estimated 11 to 16 million American population by the year 2050. Terrifying, but certainly true.
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