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xchrom

(108,903 posts) Mon Oct 20, 2014, 06:41 AM Oct 2014

10 Facts You Need to Know About the Devastating Disease You or Someone You Love Will Likely Get

http://www.alternet.org/personal-health/10-facts-you-need-know-about-devastating-disease-you-or-someone-you-love-will-likely

***SNIP

So here are some much-needed facts about Alzheimer’s.

1. Alzheimer’s is not a normal part of aging, but the chances of getting it greatly increase with age. As Russell writes:

“Alzheimer’s disease is practically unheard of in adults younger than 40, and very rare (one in 2,500) for those under 60. It affects 1 percent of 65-year-olds, 2 percent of 68-year-olds, 3 percent of 70-year-olds. After that, the odds start multiplying. The likelihood of your developing Alzheimer’s more or less doubles every five years past 65. Should you make it to 85, you will have, roughly, a fifty-fifty shot at remaining sane.”

2. Eleven million Americans take care of relatives who have dementia at home. “The first two-thirds of the disease’s arc are grueling if manageable,” Russell writes. “But then your loved one stops speaking, eating, or recognizing sound. You strain after them, but there’s as much ‘loved one’ in your loved one as there is ocean in a conch shell.”

3. Dementia caregivers struggle disproportionately with depression. They die at a 63 percent higher rate than their same-age peers who do not have this burden.

4. Cost of living in a special home for people with Alzheimer’s: $219 per day. $80,000 per year, Russell estimates.

7 replies

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Highlight:

10 Facts You Need to Know About the Devastating Disease You or Someone You Love Will Likely Get (Original Post) xchrom Oct 2014 OP

It's incredibly frightening. blue neen Oct 2014 #1

$80K per year... Earth_First Oct 2014 #2

It is considered to be insanity?????? dixiegrrrrl Oct 2014 #3

No offense but if you met my mother Duppers Oct 2014 #5

No, it's not insanity. Borchkins Oct 2014 #6

Here's another: Coconut oil consumption is reversing Alzheimers. tridim Oct 2014 #4

K&R. My Dad died following a long bout with Alzheimer's several bullwinkle428 Oct 2014 #7

blue neen

(12,322 posts)

1. It's incredibly frightening.

Reply to xchrom (Original post)

Mon Oct 20, 2014, 07:45 AM

Oct 2014

So many Baby Boomers are now reaching their senior years; there will be an overwhelming number of Alzheimer's cases. Taking care of these poor people and their families will be a daunting task.

Earth_First

(14,910 posts)

2. $80K per year...

Reply to xchrom (Original post)

Mon Oct 20, 2014, 08:00 AM

Oct 2014

In our area, much like many others I am sure...there is a steady increase in elder care communities, which by no surprise is necessary as a sizeable portion of the population will need these facilities.

However, in our area they have been thoughtfully named 'Legacy Communities' by those capitalizing on his trend.

The issue I have is not with the infrastructure development, however it lies within the marketing of these communities...

The elder population is being drained of their own financial independance in an effort to amass tremendous amounts of wealth on behalf of the Board of Directors within these establishments at great cost to our aging members of society.

What's more, is if you look at the track records of these communities, the quality of care is not even coming close in terms of value with regard to the outrageous cost of maintaining residency within...however that's another discussion on it's own.

dixiegrrrrl

(60,010 posts)

3. It is considered to be insanity??????

Reply to xchrom (Original post)

Mon Oct 20, 2014, 08:21 AM

Oct 2014

I object to labeling it being a "crazy" disease.

Duppers

(28,125 posts)

5. No offense but if you met my mother

Reply to dixiegrrrrl (Reply #3)

Mon Oct 20, 2014, 08:40 AM

Oct 2014

You'd label her "crazy." She's 89 and has dementia that's driving all three of her offsprings "crazy" too.

Borchkins

(724 posts)

6. No, it's not insanity.

Reply to dixiegrrrrl (Reply #3)

Mon Oct 20, 2014, 09:37 AM

Oct 2014

Mental illness can be treated and if you find the right drug, there can be recovery. (Recovery until the victim feels better and stops taking the meds!)

There is no cure, no effective treatment of alzheimers. You may be able to slow it down, (think Aricept) or treat the resulting behaviors, but there is no cure. That's the difference.
B

tridim

(45,358 posts)

4. Here's another: Coconut oil consumption is reversing Alzheimers.

Reply to xchrom (Original post)

Mon Oct 20, 2014, 08:32 AM

Oct 2014

And another: Most doctors don't seem to care that coconut oil consumption is reversing Alzheimers.

bullwinkle428

(20,629 posts)

7. K&R. My Dad died following a long bout with Alzheimer's several

Reply to xchrom (Original post)

Mon Oct 20, 2014, 11:25 AM

Oct 2014

years back, and his father had symptoms of dementia in the last year or two of his own life. It's a HUGE concern for my own future - probably at least 1000x stronger than any fear related to Ebola.

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