Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month – Three Startling Facts About Alzheimer's That You Cannot Ignore
June is a time to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s. Spend Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month learning more about Alzheimer’s disease. Here are three startling facts you may not realize.
Home Care in Lowell MI: Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness MonthThe Cost of Care is Staggering.
The cost of caring for men and women with Alzheimer’s is expected to top $277 billion in 2018. If you take every man, woman, and child living in the U.S., they’d have to chip in just over $850 each to pay for this care.
The cost of Alzheimer’s care is expected to increase drastically in the next 30 years. By 2050, it’s expected the total cost for Alzheimer’s care will be more than $1 trillion. All of these expenses do not factor in the unpaid care family caregivers provide.
The Most Recently Developed Medication is 15 Years Old.
Namzaric is the most recent FDA-approved medication for Alzheimer’s. It was approved by the FDA in 2014, but it’s a combination of two medications that were developed 15 or more years ago. While many drugs have been tested, trials have failed.
Donepezil earned FDA approval in 1996. Memantine came a few years later and earned FDA approval in 2003. Since then, there have been no other drugs that made it through testing to earn approval for treating the symptoms of Alzheimer’s.
Loss of Smell is an Early Indicator.
Studies find that a weakening sense of smell can be an early indicator of Alzheimer’s. A Columbia University neurologist discussed finding dead nerve cells and plaques during autopsies of patients. Those plaques were like those found in the brain of an Alzheimer’s patient.
The loss of smell may also explain why people with Alzheimer’s may develop aversions to foods they once loved. It’s not uncommon for a senior who loved salmon to suddenly dislike it.
Don’t Forget About Your Own Needs.
When a parent is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, it can be stressful for all involved. Thoughts of forgetting loved ones raises anxiety for an older man or woman. Fears of having to watch a parent decline is stressful for you. A supportive team is essential if you’re to stay mentally and physically healthy.
Make sure you’ve considered the benefits of respite care. You don’t have to hand over full-time care of your mom and dad to a caregiver, but home care services make it possible to spend quality time together. It also makes it possible to not give up seeing friends and attending to your own household chores and appointments.
If you or someone you know needs help with home care in Lowell, MI, contact Gauthier Family Home Care. We provide quality and affordable home care services in our community. Call us at (616) 258-2300 for more information.
Sources:
https://www.alz.org/facts/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMInM61m-fB2wIVkBiPCh2TLwX_EAAYBCAAEgL8F_D_BwE
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