Alzheimers Disease is a misunderstood condition that has devastating impacts on those who become infected with it. Because so little research has been funded to find a cure, there is currently no effective treatment to heal victims of Alzheimer’s. After watching, “What is Alzheimer’s Disease” viewers will have a foundation to understand the following four videos. “An Urgent Epidemic” details the astonishing number of infected individuals, the difficulty on global economies and the lack of research funding available to treat the problem. In “The Race to the Cure” viewers discover the groundbreaking technologies that are providing new understanding about how the disease comes to bear.
“A Message for Patients and Their Families” directs attention to those who suffer from and with Alzheimer’s disease, how to deal with the subsequent memory loss, personality changes, and disillusionment while staying heartened and optimistic. Finally, “The Genetics of Alzheimer’s” details further, the stages of the disease and talks about those who are more prone to suffer from its effects. Watching the videos with a brief overview of the concepts and sharing this knowledge with state representatives and lawmakers can help the world to find a precious cure for this devastating epidemic
What is Alzheimer’s Disease
An Urgent Epidemic
This video covers a few little known facts. Alzheimer’s disease impacts a greater percentage of victims as they age. Only one percent of the population of sixty-five year olds suffer from it, while an astonishing twenty percent of eighty-five year olds are afflicted. Because it is so costly to provide long-term care to these patients, care providers end up paying the brunt of the medical bills, stressing taxpayers in turn and crippling the socioeconomic environment. Too little is known about the disease and too few governments offer funding for research that could eventually unburden the medical system and more importantly give Alzheimer’s sufferers back their minds and lives.
The Race to the Cure
Finding effective cures for a disease that takes eight to ten years to develop is not an easy task. Knowing whether these treatments are working takes as long as the stages of progression do to develop. Under these circumstances, researchers are working to slow and ultimately cure the disease that is caused by Beta Amyloid fragments (a sticky protein) that cause plaque in the brain and prevent memory function. Current medications such as Cogex, Aricept, Namenda, Exelon and Razadyne help treat certain problems that occur because of Alzheimer’s, but there is still no way to prevent or even slow its progress. For anyone who is interested in joining the battle for a cure by being involved in trials, www.aboutalz.org has more information, or by calling 1-800-438-4380 people can get involved in finding a cure.
A Message For Patients and Their Families
This quick film provides a small amount of education pertinent especially to the caregivers of those with Alzheimer’s disease. It is a difficult task to take care of a person whose memory, emotions, and perceptions of reality begin to disintegrate. By surrounding themselves with helpful individuals from the social services community, caregivers can adequately handle the burden that comes with the task. During the earliest stages of the disease, caregivers should also attend to details such as: estate planning, power of attorney and Long Term Care Insurance.
The Genetics of Alzheimer’s
There are currently major limitations on how researchers interact with Alzheimer’s disease. Though they know that there is at least one genetically inheritable factor that leads to the disease, it is only responsible for about three percent of the disease’s cases; being one of the people with the inherited disease is not common. More importantly, being tested for this risk factor or others is not practical since there are no perceivable methods of treatment to prevent its onset. The closest lead scientist have shows them that certain genes may increase the risk of getting the disease, and that exercise and a healthy diet are the best known methods to prevent its onset. Because the nature of a person’s environment may cause Alzheimer’s to take effect, healthy living is the best prevention method.
Conclusion
Alzheimer’s disease is not currently curable. Without sufficient funds and awareness, a cure may not be found for many decades to come. However, with the developments researches have on the horizon, a breakthrough may not be far off.
The key to success, is building awareness through communication, persistence and funding.
For more information about these videos visit: www.aboutalz.org
