Huge cost of Alzheimer's

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Today is World Alzheimer's Day, set aside by Alzheimer associations around the world to concentrate on raising awareness about dementia. There are an estimated 24 million people around the world who currently have dementia.

Alzheimer's is one of the costliest maladies draining insurance companies and family savings. And because the medical community is now able to help us live longer lives, the number of Alzheimer's sufferers is increasing at an alarming rate.

In June 1999, Rep. Ed Markey, Massachusetts Democrat, and Rep. Chris Smith, New Jersey Republican, joined as co-chairs of the Bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease, a task force that continues providing an immeasurable degree of leadership.

Sens. Hillary Clinton, New York Democrat, and Susan Collins, Maine Republican, head the Senate effort. Both are active, vigorous and conscientious advocates.

Congressional committees responsible for funding Alzheimer's research and treatment projects voted to limit or decrease most projects in the budget now under consideration on Capitol Hill.

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disorder that gradually destroys a memory and ability to learn, reason, make judgments, communicate and carry out daily activities. As Alzheimer's progresses, individuals may also experience changes in personality and behavior, such as anxiety, suspiciousness or agitation, as well as delusions or hallucinations.

Because Alzheimer's is a disease, a malfunction if you will, in the brain, patients and their families often experience difficulty in properly diagnosing the disease and getting treatment. While doctors often rely heavily on the patient's complaints to diagnose other diseases, a patient with Alzheimer's may be unable or reluctant to describe his or her own confusion and distress.

Add to that, the patient may be reclusive, untrusting and/or overly proud. The patient may suffer through long days of confusion and misinterpretation, only to rally in front of the doctor and hide any hint of disability.

My friend Ron may be the classic example of Alzheimer's disease running amok in a sufferer both confused and no longer able to routinely make rational decisions others take for granted. He is not only unable to make the decisions; he agonizes over simple decisions for days or weeks at a time.

And Alzheimer's disease sufferers can be dangerous, in extreme cases, to themselves and others. Ron has had three recent car accidents. His insurance policy was revoked. But, unable to properly self-diagnose and afraid a doctor might recommend he stop driving, Ron, like untold numbers of others, retains his license, continues to drive, and found new, though more expensive, insurance coverage.