Is Being Forgetful Just Age Related?
10/07/10
Well, many of us go through it each and everyday. We forget. We go to do something and then forget what we were supposed to do. We are talking and can’t remember a particular word. Some of us chalk it up to old age and that could very well be the case. Some of us also chalk it up to old age, but indeed it could be something more serious than that. How do we know?
According to an article just published (September 30, 2010) in Health Day, it says, “when it comes to the onset of early Alzheimer's disease, a person's family and close friends are better able to spot the initial signs of trouble than traditional screening by doctors, new research suggests.” This was based on data evaluated from questionnaires called AD8 or Ascertain Dementia 8. This information was taken from 250 participants who also completed traditional dementia screenings included spinal fluid tests and brain plaque scans. The results showed that the evaluations of the AD8 questionnaires were “superior” to the conventional screening in detecting signs of early dementia.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association 2010 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report, there are more than 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s and as many as 10 million family caregivers. The Association has estimated that in 2008 there were 1.1 million Californians 55+ living with the disease and 17,626 in the North Bay (Marin, Sonoma and Napa Counties) with that number expected to double by the year 2030. During the same time period, the number of Latinos and Asian/Pacific Islanders living with the disease will triple.
According to a world report released by the Alzheimer's Association last week, Alzheimer’s disease will cost the worldwide economy $604 billion by the year 2010. The report that focused on the worldwide costs of Alzheimer's, as a call to action for governments and policymakers to prepare now for a burgeoning number of Alzheimer's sufferers.
Memory loss that disrupts daily life is not a typical part of aging. It may be a symptom of Alzheimer's, a brain disease that causes a slow decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills. Every individual may experience one or more of these signs in different degrees.
There is so much to talk about and learn about this subject matter. That is why I’ve invited Shelley Dombroski, Director of the North Bay Alzheimer’s Association to be on my radio show who will talk extensively about the 10 warning signs of Alzheimer’s as well as discussing the key differences between dementia and normal aging.
Click here to listen.
Frank M. Samson is Founder of Senior Care Authority based in Sonoma and also hosts “The Aging Boomers” on KSVY 91.3 or can be listened to live at www.ksvy.com, every Monday at 2pm PT. The company provides free assistance to families in helping them find In-Home Care, Independent and Assisted Living for their loved ones. He can be reached at 707.939.8744 or
e-mailed at frank@seniorcareauthority.com. The company website is www.seniorcareauthority.com.
