Given the increasing prevalence of the disease, most of us know someone who is suffering from Alzheimer’s or who is helping care for someone with the disease. Nationally, the month of November is known as Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month. Recognizing the need for heightened awareness of this disease, President Ronald Reagan made this designation in 1983. To help you prepare, the Grand Forks elder law attorneys at German Law discuss ways to get involved during Alzheimer’s Awareness Month.
Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease
Most people associate Alzheimer’s disease with dementia and the loss of memory. While those are hallmarks of Alzheimer’s, the disease is considerably more complicated than that. According to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA), Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, degenerative disorder that attacks the brain’s nerve cells, or neurons, resulting in loss of memory, deterioration of thinking and language skills, and behavioral changes. These neurons, which produce the brain chemical, or neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, break connections with other nerve cells and ultimately die. For example, short-term memory fails when Alzheimer’s disease first destroys nerve cells in the hippocampus, and language skills and judgment decline when neurons die in the cerebral cortex. Unlike many other diseases, such as AIDS, experts do not believe Alzheimer’s has a single cause. Instead, they believe the disease is multi-faceted with several factors influencing the development of the disease. Scientists are currently focusing on amyloid and tau proteins, whose malformation are classic characteristics of Alzheimer’s disease; however, other factors likely help determine who develops the disease, including vascular health, inflammation, lifestyle, and possibly even viral causes.
Alzheimer’s Facts and Figures
To better understand why Alzheimer’s Awareness Month is so important, consider the following facts and figures about the disease published by the Alzheimer’s Association and the National Health Organization (WHO):
Participating in Alzheimer’s Awareness Month
Whether you have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, are caring for someone with Alzheimer’s, or simply want to raise awareness about the disease, there are numerous ways in which you can participate in Alzheimer’s Awareness Month this November. The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) provides a wealth of suggestions, resources, and materials to get you started, including things such as:
- factsheet available for download on the AFA website.
- AFA website.
- free virtual memory screening through the AFA.
Contact Grand Forks Elder Law Attorneys
Please join us for an upcoming FREE seminar. If you have additional questions or concerns about elder law, contact the Grand Forks elder law attorneys at German Law by calling 701-738-0060 to schedule an appointment.
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