Off The Cuff

Alzheimer’s Devastates Families

Posted by: From Arkansas in Family stuff, Health Topics, Odds And Ends, The Good Things on Aug 10 2007

Welcome back!

Alzheimer’s Disease devastates families in ways that nothing else can. Over 5 million Americans alone are afflicted with this horrible disease. Even though the symptoms vary rather widely, the first common signs of Alzheimer’s is a loss of memory that affects them in ways they did not expect, like in their social lives, at work or with their hobbies. Over time, the disease progresses to a larger form of memory loss, confusion, some changes in one’s personality or not recognizing places they are quite familiar with.

This insidious disease might start with no signs even to a health care professional. Then, they might experience small memory loss that really doesn’t look like the disease, simply growing older, misplacing things at times, slight memory loss and so on. After that, others begin to notice that there are some problems and deficiencies that include difficulty remembering names of people they know, misplacing more valuable items, difficulty remembering words. The impairment continues to progress into much more memory loss, difficulty in quite a few things. Eventually, the person loses much. They no longer recognize family or people they have known for years, they get lost easily, functions such as feeding themselves are lost.

Memory Walk

There is no cure right now. There are, however, treatments for the symptoms. More has been learned about this disease in the last 15 years than ever before. At this time, a worldwide effort to add more treatments, delay the onset, prevent it completely and find the cure are happening. There is a Memory Walk getting started near you. How about becoming a Team Captain?

The Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk 2007 is being held to bring more awareness of the disease and to raise money for the research needed to find the cure. This event is held annually all across this country in more than 600 communities. The usual Memory Walk is two to three miles and is held in the fall. But, they need Team Captains right now!! Form your own team and join the Memory Walk early. This is your chance to help this awesome cause to find the cure. Won’t you join now as a Team Captain? You can find a walk near you and then start recruiting your family, friends and co-workers.

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