Huge cost of Alzheimer's

The Washington Times ^ | September 21, 2006 | John E. Carey

[John Carey]

What are the costs of a progressive brain disease on an aging society? At the 10th International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders (ICAD), in Madrid in July 2006, Dr. Anders Wimo of the Stockholm Gerontology Research Center and Aging Research Center at Karolinska Institute, Sweden, said worldwide costs of dementia care (combined direct and informal costs) is around $248 billion annually. This overlooks the fact many suffer the ill effects and still receive no care and that our aging population is growing at a breathtaking rate. "These startling cost estimates for Alzheimer's care clearly illustrate the great challenges faced by both families and our national health-care systems as the number of people with Alzheimer's continues to grow," said William Thies, Alzheimer's Association vice president of medical and scientific relations. "Increasing the funding for Alzheimer's research into early detection, better treatment and prevention is critical to curbing this impending world health disaster. We can fund research now or wait for Alzheimer's to overwhelm the health systems in the U.S. and throughout the world."

[GeorgefromGeorgia]

My Wife and I took care of my Mother-in -law for over two years in our home. It reached a point that we could not handle her, so we finally had to place her in a nursing home (she died 6 months later). This disease is torture for the individual AND the family members caring for the person. Quite frankly, I would rather be dead that live that kind of existence. Problem is, by the time I have the disease, I won't be able to do anything about it.

My Mother is now going through some dementia (almost 80). Fortunately, she doesn't have altheimers. She smoked until she has severe COPD and her lungs are almost gone. Now she cannot get enough oxygen to think straight. The incredible amounts of money spend on health case for our loved ones in their last two years of life is a primary reason that Medicare has a huge unfunded deficit. There is not good answer to this problem. It does remind me of the old movie "Nanook of the North" where the old ones were left to freeze to death. That is not the way, but my Mom has elected to have a DNR.