World Alzheimer’s Day

Friday, September 21 is World Alzheimer’s Day. It’s a day dedicated to raising awareness about a disease that is currently the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. The numbers are startling. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, every 65 seconds someone in the United States develops Alzheimer’s disease, and nearly one in every three seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. And while more than five million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s right now, by 2050, experts expect as many as 16 million Americans will be diagnosed with the disease. So, what is Alzheimer’s? Alzheimer’s is a brain disease that causes a slow decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills. One of the most common signs of the disease, particularly in the early stages, is forgetting recently learned information. That can mean not remembering important dates or events, repeatedly asking for the same information, and increasingly needing to rely on memory aids, such as reminder notes or electronic devices. There are other symptoms, too, including challenges in planning or solving problems; difficulty completing […]