In honor of World Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, IsraelPharm, your online pharmacy, is joining the global conversation about Alzheimer’s. Although the impact of World Alzheimer’s Month is growing, two out of every three people worldwide still believe there is little to no understanding of dementia in their country.
World Alzheimer’s Day is September 21 every year and is the highlight of the international annual campaign to raise awareness and challenge the stigma surrounding dementia. This year’s campaign theme is ‘Remember me’ to underscore the importance of early detection and diagnosis of dementia, which we will discuss here.
What is Alzheimer’s disease?
Alzheimer’s is NOT normal aging or “a little memory loss.” It is a brain disorder in which the death of brain cells causes a slow decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills. Many people confuse Alzheimer’s disease with dementia. What’s the difference? Whereas Alzheimer’s is a disease, dementia is a group of symptoms that include loss of memory, thinking, and reasoning skills. Dementia, however, isn’t always caused by Alzheimer’s disease. It can result from other conditions as well.
The bottom line is that Alzheimer’s is a ravaging disease that usually starts mild, gets progressively worse, and ultimately ends in death.
How common is it?
Let’s look at some U.S. and worldwide statistics and see for ourselves.
- In 2017, well over 5 million Americans, most of them over 65, have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Some say that statistic is only half correct since many people have the disease well before symptoms appear.
- 1-in-9 Americans over 65 has Alzheimer’s disease. (Alzheimer’s Association)
- One-third of Americans over age 85 are afflicted with the illness. (Alzheimer’s Association)
- Alzheimer’s disease is the 6th leading cause of death in America. (Centers for Disease Control). Some say the 3rd leading cause since Alzheimer’s sufferers often develop other diseases that cause their death.
- 1-in-3 seniors die with Alzheimer’s or another kind of dementia. (Centers for Disease Control)
- Typical life expectancy after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis is 4-to-8 years. (Alzheimer’s Association
- Every 67 seconds someone in the US develops the disease.
- By mid-century, someone in America will develop the disease every 33 seconds.
- Only 1-in-4 people with Alzheimer’s disease have been diagnosed. (Alzheimer’s Disease International)
- MEMORY LOSS THAT DISRUPTS DAILY LIFE
- Forgetting recently learned information.
- Forgetting important dates or events.
- Repeatedly asking for the same information.
- Needing to rely on memory aids (reminder notes, etc) for things they used to handle on their own.
- CHALLENGES IN PLANNING OR SOLVING PROBLEMS
- Difficulty in developing and following a plan or working with number.
- Difficulty with following a familiar recipe or keeping track of bills
- Taking longer to do things than they used to, trouble with concentrating
- TROUBLE WITH FAMILIAR TASKS
- CONFUSION WITH TIME OR PLACE
- Losing track of dates, seasons, and the passage of time
- Difficulty understanding something that is not happening immediately
- Forgetting where they are or how they got there
- TROUBLE UNDERSTANDING VISUAL IMAGES AND SPATIAL RELATIONSHIPS
- NEW PROBLEMS WITH WORDS IN SPEAKING OR WRITING
- Trouble following or joining a conversation
- Stopping in the middle of a conversation and having no idea how to continue
- Repeating themselves
- Struggling with vocabulary
- Trouble with finding the right word or calling something by the wrong name
- MISPLACING THINGS AND LOSING THE ABILITY TO RETRACE STEPS
- Putting things in unusual places
- Losing things and being unable to trace their steps to find them
- Accusing others of stealing
- DECREASED OR POOR JUDGMENT
- Changes in judgment or decision-making. For example, displaying poor judgment when dealing with money by giving large amounts to telemarketers.
- Less focus on grooming or personal hygiene
- WITHDRAWAL FROM WORK OR SOCIAL ACTIVITIES
- Starting to remove themselves from hobbies, social activities, work projects, or sports
- Difficulty with keeping up with a favorite sports team
- Disinterest in being social because of the changes they have experienced
- CHANGES IN MOOD AND PERSONALITY
- Becoming confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful, or anxious
- Being easily upset at home, work, with friends, or in unfamiliar places