Although Alzheimer’s disease was first identified around 100 years ago, it’s only recently that momentum started to build on research into symptoms and causes of the disease.
“Alzheimer’s is a disease that has been around 100 years, and yet it’s been a disease that’s been kind of under the cover,” said local Alzheimer’s Association CEO/President David Midland.
Midland was one of many local leaders in the Alzheimer’s community to gather at Nazareth College on Wednesday for an input session as part of the National Alzheimer’s Project act, which was signed into law by President Barack Obama on Jan. 4 of this year.
The law created a national strategic plan to address the disease, which is expected to dramatically increase with an aging baby boom population. The plan calls for an annual update to congress on recommendations, priorities, and suggestions to lower costs, and for an annual evaluation of federally funded efforts in Alzheimer’s research, care and services.
The forum held at Nazareth was one of 100 sessions held across the country since August. They’re designed to give family members and caretakers a voice, and to facilitate for the first time a way for caretakers to give their first-hand explanations as to what specifically is causing the most hardship—financially and otherwise. On the panel Wednesday were Vicky Hines, President and CEO of Visiting Nurse Service of Rochester and Chair of the Alzheimer’s Association in the Rochester and Finger Lakes region, David Steitz, Associate Professor and Director of Gerontology program at Nazareth College, Betsy King, Music Therapy Director at Nazareth College, and U.S. Congressman Tom Reed, R-Corning.
“This is often times a disease that we don’t want to talk about,” said Midland. But the implications of not acting are severe, he said. The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that the disease will cost America $1.1 trillion per year by 2050. The newly created law and push for awareness and research comes at a time when the nation is preparing for a “tremendous increase” in those who are diagnosed with the disease, said Midland.
It’s estimated that over 5 million Americans are currently battling Alzheimer’s disease. But aside from those who have it--it also affects an enormous amount of caretakers who work with those who are diagnosed. According to the National Alzheimer’s Association, there are an estimated 14.9 millon unpaid caregivers who are working daily to care for someone with the disease.
Carla Danesi of East Rochester spoke on the subject at the forum.
“New medicines should be the top priority,” she said, addressing the panel. “Caregivers are financially destroyed, me amongst them. Many of us want to keep our loved ones home with the disease, but cannot afford to. Some of us have lost our jobs because our employers refuse to observe caregivers’ rights.”
With the exception of certain inherited forms of the disease, the cause or causes of Alzheimer’s disease still remains unknown. Midland said the push now is to increase awareness, and to focus on early diagnosis.
Although Alzheimer’s disease was first identified around 100 years ago, it’s only recently that momentum started to build on research into symptoms and causes of the disease.
“Alzheimer’s is a disease that has been around 100 years, and yet it’s been a disease that’s been kind of under the cover,” said local Alzheimer’s Association CEO/President David Midland.
Midland was one of many local leaders in the Alzheimer’s community to gather at Nazareth College on Wednesday for an input session as part of the National Alzheimer’s Project act, which was signed into law by President Barack Obama on Jan. 4 of this year.
The law created a national strategic plan to address the disease, which is expected to dramatically increase with an aging baby boom population. The plan calls for an annual update to congress on recommendations, priorities, and suggestions to lower costs, and for an annual evaluation of federally funded efforts in Alzheimer’s research, care and services.
The forum held at Nazareth was one of 100 sessions held across the country since August. They’re designed to give family members and caretakers a voice, and to facilitate for the first time a way for caretakers to give their first-hand explanations as to what specifically is causing the most hardship—financially and otherwise. On the panel Wednesday were Vicky Hines, President and CEO of Visiting Nurse Service of Rochester and Chair of the Alzheimer’s Association in the Rochester and Finger Lakes region, David Steitz, Associate Professor and Director of Gerontology program at Nazareth College, Betsy King, Music Therapy Director at Nazareth College, and U.S. Congressman Tom Reed, R-Corning.
“This is often times a disease that we don’t want to talk about,” said Midland. But the implications of not acting are severe, he said. The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that the disease will cost America $1.1 trillion per year by 2050. The newly created law and push for awareness and research comes at a time when the nation is preparing for a “tremendous increase” in those who are diagnosed with the disease, said Midland.
It’s estimated that over 5 million Americans are currently battling Alzheimer’s disease. But aside from those who have it--it also affects an enormous amount of caretakers who work with those who are diagnosed. According to the National Alzheimer’s Association, there are an estimated 14.9 millon unpaid caregivers who are working daily to care for someone with the disease.
Carla Danesi of East Rochester spoke on the subject at the forum.
“New medicines should be the top priority,” she said, addressing the panel. “Caregivers are financially destroyed, me amongst them. Many of us want to keep our loved ones home with the disease, but cannot afford to. Some of us have lost our jobs because our employers refuse to observe caregivers’ rights.”
With the exception of certain inherited forms of the disease, the cause or causes of Alzheimer’s disease still remains unknown. Midland said the push now is to increase awareness, and to focus on early diagnosis.
