Dementia, not a pretty picture… Typical progression of the disease includes a decline in cognitive function, memory, communication, physical abilities, to the point that the person living with dementia is unable to care for themselves. So, first we see the thinking fade away, recent memories, then those from days past, problem solving skills, attention, and communication. Then this horrific disease attacks a person’s physical being. As if the war on their mind was not enough, they lose coordination, vision disturbances occur, senses change. In the end, it all goes, the person with dementia cannot tell you want they want and need, cannot remember who they are or where they are, cannot walk, feed themselves, use the bathroom on their own, and then goes the ability to swallow, something as basic as eating and drinking become physically impossible. As I said, it is not a pretty picture.
What I know, and see everyday, is that people are living with dementia. The CDC says that as many as 5.3 million American’s are living with dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease (which is responsible for over half of the cases of dementia). What I also know is that our population is aging, and these numbers are growing exponentially. Now the question is what do we do with this fact? How will we care for all of these people as they age? How will we prepare their families to cope with dementia? We need to start the conversation now. Knowledge is power. The more people know about this disease the more empowered they (or we) will be to kick it!
What I know, and see everyday, is that people are living with dementia. The CDC says that as many as 5.3 million American’s are living with dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease (which is responsible for over half of the cases of dementia). What I also know is that our population is aging, and these numbers are growing exponentially. Now the question is what do we do with this fact? How will we care for all of these people as they age? How will we prepare their families to cope with dementia? We need to start the conversation now. Knowledge is power. The more people know about this disease the more empowered they (or we) will be to kick it!
The aging brain is an inflamed brain and the elderly frequently have very low vitamin D levels as they are house bound and avoid the sun. Vitamin D also reduces harmful levels of nitric oxide which can form the brain destroying substance called peroxynitrite. Peroxynitrite is found in high levels in the brains of pople with Alzheimer's dementia, Parkinson's disease and many other neurodegenerative disorders. These are all brain inflammotory disorders. Submitted by Lindie Moore, information taken from the January - March edition of "Present Truth for the Last Generton"
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