Arresting Alzheimer's: Tools of the Trained
Professor David J. Demko, PhD
AgeVenture News Service, 12-11-02
In less than eight years, 2010 to be exact, the Medicare costs for people with Alzheimer's disease is expected to jump 54 percent. “This imminent epidemic of Alzheimer’s disease threatens to bankrupt Medicare and Medicaid', said Stephen McConnell of the Alzheimer’s Association. A study prepared by The Lewin Group shows within 10 years, the cost to Medicare of treating people with Alzheimer's disease will soar from $31.9 billion in 2000 to $49.3 billion in 2010. This increase in cost comes even before an expected epidemic of Alzheimer’s hits. Here's what the epidemic will look like. The number of people with Alzheimer’s is expected to swell from 4 million in 2002 to 14 million by 2050. Enough gloom and doom. Here's the good news. "There is a lot known about caring for people with Alzheimer's disease and a lot of resources are available," says McConnell. Here's the irony. Many clinicians may not be aware of the guidelines. As a result, what we know is not practiced. "We need to provide tools to help more physicians diagnose and treat people dealing with this devastating disease," said Catherine Rydell, executive director and CEO of the American Academy of Neurology.
Medical groups that provide services to Alzheimer's patients and their families have determined that there is widespread agreement among the guidelines, and advised that it would be helpful if clinicians who care for people with Alzheimer's disease obtain and follow the guidelines.
provided by their specialty society.
Representatives of the seven organizations (American Academy of Neurology, Alzheimer's Association, American Medical Association, American Association of Geriatric Psychiatry, American Geriatric Society, American
Medical Directors Association and the World Federation of Neurology) emphasized the following important principles in caring for people with Alzheimer's disease:
- Our Alzheimer I.Q.
Alzheimer's disease is recognizable and can be differentiated from
normal aging by clinicians
- First Family First
symptoms are usually first identified by family
members and should be reported to their doctors.
- Alzheimer Accuracy
Alzheimer's disease can be diagnosed with 95 percent accuracy, the
same as appendicitis.
- Elder Care Full
Effective care options exist and can improve quality of life for
patients and their caregivers.
- From These Resources Come Unity
Resources exist in the community for people with dementia and their
caregivers and are important elements to quality care.
"Clinicians may make a difference in the quality of
life of patients with Alzheimer's disease if they follow guideline
recommendations," said Rydell.
In the meantime, healthy individuals might consider adjusting their diets to include adequate amounts of folic acid. According to Dr. Mark Mattson, National Institute on Aging, " People who have Alzheimer’s disease often have low levels of folic acid in their blood, but it is not clear whether this is a result of the disease or if they are simply malnourished due to their illness. Based on emerging research, Dr. Mattson speculates consuming adequate amounts of folic acid, either in the diet or by supplementation, could be beneficial to the aging brain and help protect it against Alzheimer’s. Good sources of the vitamin include:
- green leafy vegetables,
- citrus fruits and juices,
- whole wheat bread, and
- dry beans.
Following a different train of thought, researchers at Case Western Reserve University have studied the role of lifestyle strategies in the prevention or delay of Azheimer's. Robert Friedland, professor of neurology found that "People who were less active were more than three times more likely to have Alzheimer's disease as compared
to those who were more active." Active intellectual activities, say CWRU researchers, include reading and painting, jigsaw puzzles, woodworking, and knitting. Active physical activities ran the gamut from gardening to racquet sports.
"A relative increase in the amount of time devoted to intellectual activities from early adulthood (ages 20-39) to
mid-adulthood (ages 40-60) was associated with a significant decrease in the probability of having Alzheimer's
disease later in life," says Friedland.
Preventive efforts, such as dietary and lifestyle strategies, may not be the end-all cure. However, delaying the onset of Alzheimer's might work miracles. For example, it is believed that delaying Alzheimer's onset by just five years will decrease the number of Alzheimer victims by as much as 50 percent. And, here's what I consider the best news yet. Research findings suggest it is never too late to get started.
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