Today everyone in the country is aware of the devastating effects of Alzheimer's disease and that the disease is growing. More people are diagnosed with the disease every day. Many of us have a relative or friend that has been afflicted by this disease that has no cure. Alzheimer's disease is an extremely difficult one because it affects not just the sufferer but the family members who care for them.
Many doctors over the last several years have dedicated the majority of their time and energy to Alzheimer's research. People in research labs across the country are working around the clock to develop a cure for Alzheimer's. As it is a disease that affects millions of Americans and their families, it is definitely a top priority.
To some it may not seem like a big deal. Many people figure that since most of the people diagnosed are older than 60 that it's not as important. They probably fail to realize however that early onset Alzheimer's can affect people in their forties and fifties too. That means that some people are spending half their life dealing with this disease. For the families of these victims it also means that they miss out on twenty years or more with their loved ones.
The people who have not experienced the disease in a family member or friend will have a hard time imagining the difficulty the disease imposes upon family members. Alzheimer's disease attacks the brain to the extent that the sufferer of the disease has a very tough time remembering things and finds it almost impossible to live in the present.
We have seen dramatizations of this disease portrayed in many television shows. Grey's Anatomy for example shows two of its main characters fighting to find a cure for Alzheimer's disease. Through the many different cases they show of patients suffering from Alzheimer's, we can start to get an idea of how difficult this disease can be for both the patient, and the family members.
Television shows are able to reveal to us what it might be like to be diagnosed with Alzheimer or be a loved one of someone who has the disease. These shows help those with no direct experience of the subject to understand the extensive damage Alzheimer's disease causes to the sufferers and those who care for them. We cannot fully conceive of what it would be like to basically lose our minds to the extent we do not recognize our own children. Neither can we fully come to grips with the distress of the child whose own parent no longer recognizes him.
There are millions of families across the United States who do know the suffering and know it first hand. They also are aware that it is not just an old person's disease; it can strike younger family members as well, meaning that the caregiver has a very long siege ahead of them as well as the patient they love so much. This is one of the reasons why Alzheimer's disease research has such a high priority.
Perhaps with the proper funding, the scientists and doctors working diligently in various research laboratories will be able to find a cure for Alzheimer's disease. So if you one day find yourself with an extra dollar you don't know what to do with, skip the soda or candy bar and consider donating it towards Alzheimer's research because it's the little things that make a big difference.
Many doctors over the last several years have dedicated the majority of their time and energy to Alzheimer's research. People in research labs across the country are working around the clock to develop a cure for Alzheimer's. As it is a disease that affects millions of Americans and their families, it is definitely a top priority.
To some it may not seem like a big deal. Many people figure that since most of the people diagnosed are older than 60 that it's not as important. They probably fail to realize however that early onset Alzheimer's can affect people in their forties and fifties too. That means that some people are spending half their life dealing with this disease. For the families of these victims it also means that they miss out on twenty years or more with their loved ones.
The people who have not experienced the disease in a family member or friend will have a hard time imagining the difficulty the disease imposes upon family members. Alzheimer's disease attacks the brain to the extent that the sufferer of the disease has a very tough time remembering things and finds it almost impossible to live in the present.
We have seen dramatizations of this disease portrayed in many television shows. Grey's Anatomy for example shows two of its main characters fighting to find a cure for Alzheimer's disease. Through the many different cases they show of patients suffering from Alzheimer's, we can start to get an idea of how difficult this disease can be for both the patient, and the family members.
Television shows are able to reveal to us what it might be like to be diagnosed with Alzheimer or be a loved one of someone who has the disease. These shows help those with no direct experience of the subject to understand the extensive damage Alzheimer's disease causes to the sufferers and those who care for them. We cannot fully conceive of what it would be like to basically lose our minds to the extent we do not recognize our own children. Neither can we fully come to grips with the distress of the child whose own parent no longer recognizes him.
There are millions of families across the United States who do know the suffering and know it first hand. They also are aware that it is not just an old person's disease; it can strike younger family members as well, meaning that the caregiver has a very long siege ahead of them as well as the patient they love so much. This is one of the reasons why Alzheimer's disease research has such a high priority.
Perhaps with the proper funding, the scientists and doctors working diligently in various research laboratories will be able to find a cure for Alzheimer's disease. So if you one day find yourself with an extra dollar you don't know what to do with, skip the soda or candy bar and consider donating it towards Alzheimer's research because it's the little things that make a big difference.
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