Anyone who has had a loved one, relative or family friend diagnosed with Alzheimer knows that this disease is brutal, and requires support and patience. With or without warning it wipes you of your memory, and then leads to more health complications because of not remembering to eat and so on..According to CNN, 5.4 million people suffer from Alzheimer's in the United States, and is the sixth leading cause of death. The Alzheimer's Association states that by the middle of the century 16 million people will be diagnosed with this condition.
When my grandma was detected with having Alzheimer's six years ago, she didn't want to believe that she had the disease. She was known throughout the family as having the best memory. As the years went on she began to forget more and more. She no longer recognized or remembered where she lived or who her own family was.
Anyone who is familiar with Alzheimer's knows that there are three different stages to the disease. The first stage is preclinical, and for research purposes only to find out if patients have Alzheimer's even when they don't have any cognitive or memory problems. The second stage is mild cognitive impairment where someone may show small signs in their behavior and memory. If you are diagnosed in this stage it is just prolonging the cycle the disease will take. The last stage known as dementia is when memory, thinking and behavioral problems have become so severe that the persons ability to function is hindered dramatically.
My grandmother was diagnosed at stage two, and she stayed at that same stage for about three years until it got worse. There is still not a cure for the disease, but there are many medications to prolong the cycle of this horrible disease. The main importance is to stay supportive, loving and understanding to whoever may have this illness.
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