CLARION CO., Pa. (EYT) — The incidence of Alzheimer’s disease is expected to increase over 14 percent by the year 2025.
Alzheimer’s Disease is a type of brain disease that causes dementia, which is memory loss and loss of other cognitive abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, an estimated 5.8 million Americans of all ages are currently living with the condition.
It is currently the sixth highest cause of death in the state of Pennsylvania, with over 4,000 deaths attributed to it in 2015.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s County Health Profiles, locally, the age-adjusted death rate due to Alzheimer’s disease per 100,000 residents for the years 2012 to 2016 in Clarion County was 28.4, one of the highest rates in the region.
In comparison, the rate in Jefferson County was 23.2; Armstrong County came in at 22.5; Forest County was 21.2; and Venango County had the lowest rate at just 19.6.
According to Jill Curtis, a Titusville native who currently works as the Education Outreach Coordinator for the northwest Pennsylvania region of the Alzheimer’s Association, one of the things many people don’t understand about Alzheimer’s disease is that dementia is a symptom, not a diagnosis.
“When someone his having cognitive changes, they need to talk to their physician, but don’t settle for dementia as a diagnosis. Dementia can be caused by many different things, from infection to medication, and it may be reversible,” Curtis told exploreClarion.com.
“There is still a lot of ageism we see, especially in rural populations. We need folks to know that dementia is a symptom of something and not a normal part of aging. We want people to be empowered to have a discussion with their doctor and get the answers that are right for them.”
According to research by the Alzheimer’s Association, with the current aging population, the number of people with Alzheimer’s is expected to grow rapidly in the coming years.
While research is ongoing, currently experts believe that Alzheimer’s develops as a result of multiple factors rather than a single cause. These factors include certain genetic predispositions, age, diabetes, obesity, smoking, hypertension, low physical activity, low social and mental activity, and traumatic brain injuries.
Alzheimer’s disease may begin up to 20 years before symptoms, such as memory loss and language issues, become apparent. These symptoms arise due to nerve cells in parts of the brain involved in thinking, learning, and memory have been damaged or destroyed. The symptoms then increase over time, gradually beginning to interfere more severely with a person’s ability to live their day-to-day life. Eventually, the nerve cells related to basic bodily functions, such as swallowing and walking, are affected, and the individuals affected begin to require full-time care.
The disease is ultimately fatal.
Currently, no single test exists for dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease, and physicians and specialists, such as neurologists and geriatricians, use multiple approaches and tools to make a diagnosis including:
– Obtaining a medical and family history from the individual, including psychiatric history and history of cognitive and behavioral changes;
– Asking a family member to provide input about changes in thinking skills and behavior.
– Conducting cognitive tests and physical and neurologic examinations;
– Having the individual undergo blood tests and brain imaging to rule out other potential causes of dementia symptoms, such as a tumor or certain vitamin deficiencies; and
– In some circumstances, using brain imaging tools to find out if the individual has high levels of beta-amyloid, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s; normal levels would suggest Alzheimer’s is not the cause of dementia.
While physicians are readily able to determine if an individual has dementia, identifying the precise cause of dementia can be more complicated, though Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause, dementia can also be caused by a myriad of other issues.
There are currently no medications available that actually stop, or even slow, the damage and destruction of nerves in the brain that cause Alzheimer’s disease.
There are currently six drugs approved for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, five of which temporarily improve symptoms by increasing the amount of chemicals called neurotransmitters in the brain, and one that blocks receptors in the brain from excess stimulation that can damage nerve cells, but the effectiveness of these medications is limited and varies widely from person to person.
According to Curtis, one thing to remember is that although Alzheimer’s is a leading cause of dementia, it isn’t the only cause, and when a person starts having cognitive issues, the only thing to do is to see a physician and start looking for answers.
“If you’re having changes in cognitive function, it may not be Alzheimer’s, but if it is, we are here to help,” she said.
Curtis noted that the Alzheimer’s Association’s Helpline is not a hotline.
“You don’t have to be in crisis to call,” Curtis stated.
“I even use it — all the time. I had someone down in Clarion recently ask me about brain donation, to science, and I didn’t know the answer, so I called our helpline to connect with resources.
“Even professionals can use it, not just individuals, families, and caregivers.”
The Alzheimer‘s Association 24/7 Helpline (800-272-3900) is staffed with specialists and master’s-level clinicians to offer confidential support and information.
More information is also available through the Alzheimer’s Association website.
