Ethiopian Review

People reading this blog may know only too well that Alzheimer’s disease is a debilitating disease that causes much pain and suffering, not only to the patient but also their families who are usually their caregivers.

Today, I read a very moving and eloquently presented article by Kate Mulgrew, a well known actress, who lost her mother to Alzheimer’s disease. She describes the devastating emotional and social impact of the disease on her own family. Her story is one of millions in this country.

As Kate Mulgrew points out there are:

• 5.3 million people living with Alzheimer’s disease in the United States
• One in eight people 65 years and older has Alzheimer’s
• People over 85 are even at higher risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease
• A new case of Alzheimer’s disease develops every 70 seconds
• Almost 10 million people are caring for a family member with AD
• The cost to the country is over a hundred billion dollars annually, a number that is likely to increase

Mulgrew argues that the ultimate cure for Alzheimer’s disease, it’s prevention, could come about as a result of ‘groundbreaking scientific research and powerful collaborations’, pointing out that major investment is needed for this to occur in a safe, affordable and effective way.

This powerfully written and well expressed article is exactly the sort of thing that can motivate greater research that millions of Alzheimer’s sufferers and caregivers know is needed. It helps to have someone who has the public’s attention to raise awareness of the disease’s impact.

Photo Credit:  TotallyKate.com

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- AlzheimersBeacon.com