Prepare for the guaranteed epidemic, too

As America prepares for an uncertain epidemic of bird flu, it should also be preparing for a certain epidemic of Alzheimer’s, Robert Essner argues in this commentary for The Washington Post. One in 10 boomers will be affected by the disease, he writes, emotionally draining families while at the same time draining federal and state health care budgets. He argues that the federal government should give Alzheimer’s drugs the same priority status as it has given to AIDS and cancer treatments. If this country does not make Alzheimer’s research a priority, more generations of Americans could suffer needlessly from this dreadful disease.
Posted by Melissa Cooley

15 Comments

  1. GaryC.
    Posted July 3, 2006 at 12:41 am | Permalink

    Yeah I guess we dont need that stem cell research after all!

  2. CrusaderX
    Posted July 3, 2006 at 1:10 am | Permalink

    Studies show that critical thinking exercises can help prevent Alzheimer’s in old age. The medical community should just inform the general public about Alzheimer’s prevention rather than bitching about medications.

  3. Joe Williams
    Posted July 3, 2006 at 2:18 am | Permalink

    You do have a point CrusaderX. I’m not knowledgable about the particulars of Alzheimers, but I have heard that keeping the brain active helps reduce the effects or prevent it. But I’m not for sure if that is a widely taken fact.

    But prevention is a big key for health. For many of the Boomers, its probably too late, but at least make their lives more tolerable at the end.

    I did read somewhere that 80% of the cost associated with a person health care, comes in the last 6 months of life.

    I’m willing to take the magic pill, if it comes to my prognosis. I would never put my family through that. I’m willing to die in dignity and take my own life.

  4. mrcontroversy
    Posted July 3, 2006 at 4:06 am | Permalink

    So, when are you going to start, Joe?

  5. Joe Williams
    Posted July 3, 2006 at 4:21 am | Permalink

    When I know I’m at the point when I can’t take care of myself anymore.

  6. ksfarmgrrl
    Posted July 3, 2006 at 11:16 am | Permalink

    heheheh mrc.

    Looking for a little chlorine in the gene pool?

  7. Joe Williams
    Posted July 3, 2006 at 11:22 am | Permalink

    I resent that remark KFG.

  8. Dingus
    Posted July 3, 2006 at 11:57 am | Permalink

    Joe, congress President and the courts would hold a special session to make sure they wouldn’t unplug you from the machines

  9. Joe Williams
    Posted July 3, 2006 at 12:25 pm | Permalink

    And I think that’s sad Dingus.

  10. Darwin'sDisciple
    Posted July 3, 2006 at 4:34 pm | Permalink

    I am in favor of more funding on research on Alzheimer’s.

    But I also agree with Joe that I would like to be able to proactively make a living will type document, stating that if I was unable to care for myself due to a dementia that I could be euthanatized.

    I can’t see the value of living a life where I am not myself, have no quality of life, and am burden to those I love.

    Some people disagree with me on this.

  11. Ben Huie
    Posted July 3, 2006 at 4:41 pm | Permalink

    I agree with both above. The real key here in my opinion is that the state BUTT OUT! This will be difficult enough for family without politicians.

    When I had my open heart valve job I had my wife as decider with advice from the FAMILY DR (not cardiologist or surgeon) and her Priest.

    Scary thought – three Catholics deciding …

  12. Ben Huie
    Posted July 3, 2006 at 4:46 pm | Permalink

    another point – a large fraction of one’s lifetime medical costs are in the last months of ‘life’

  13. Darwin'sDisciple
    Posted July 3, 2006 at 7:34 pm | Permalink

    “When I know I’m at the point when I can’t take care of myself anymore.”

    Joe, when you get to that point you may not be able to make a legally competent decision. That is why I favor an “advance directives/living will” type document.

  14. J M Walker
    Posted July 3, 2006 at 9:17 pm | Permalink

    The latest directive from the Pope on death is it should be delayed as much as possible, even to the extreme. That takes the decision on death by the Catholic family pretty much out of their hands.

    When my mother had her stroke last year, the doctors told the priest she couldn’t process food, even intravenious food. It was then the priest told the doctors to make her comfortable as she passed on. She was, and did. She died, in my opinion, with dignity.

  15. Damoon
    Posted July 4, 2006 at 8:37 pm | Permalink

    I think turning off the TV is one step in preventing dementia, but that’s just my opinion. I know doing active things with the mind helps…reading, writing, working math problems, word puzzles, etc. Just staying interested and challenged is good. I heard there may also be a vacine soon to help prevent Alzheimers.