Trying to counter the fear and confusion surrounding Alzheimer's disease, a local geriatrician worked Thursday to dispel common myths, including the false notion that the neurological condition isn't fatal.
"Ronald Reagan would not have died from this if there was a cure," said Dr. John Standridge, geriatrician and director of the geriatric fellowship program at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine in Chattanooga.
Standridge spoke to dozens of caregivers and family members of people with Alzheimer's, a degenerative neurological condition, during a free event at Erlanger Health System's Probasco Auditorium.
Although breakthroughs may be on the horizon, available treatments do not stop the progression of Alzheimer's, Standridge said. Still, multiple medications can temporarily slow the progression of the disease's symptoms and keep a loved one out of a nursing home for up to 21 months longer, he said.
The lunch lecture was one of a few academic talks given this week in advance of the Alzheimer's Association's annual conference, which takes place today in Chattanooga.
The conference, geared toward professional and family caregivers for those with Alzheimer's, has 200 people registered and will offer "practical and real-life tools for caregivers in managing this very difficult illness," said Amy French, program coordinator for the Alzheimer's Association's Mid-South chapter.
Early detection and intervention through medication and lifestyle changes are keys to managing the disease, she said.
FAST FACTS * Alzheimer's disease does not just affect the elderly. Between 1 and 5 percent of Alzheimer's patients are "early onset" cases, diagnosed before age 65.* Drinking from aluminum cans or cooking in aluminum pots does not cause Alzheimer's.* Flu shots, dental fillings and aspartame in artificial sweeteners do not cause Alzheimer's.* Although no treatments stop the progression of Alzheimer's, early diagnosis is critical for both patients and their loved ones to get medications that can improve the quality of life.* Real progress is being made in understanding and preventing Alzheimer's.Source: Alzheimer's Association and Dr. John StandridgeRESOURCES FOR CAREGIVERS* Alzheimer's Association 24/7 Help Line: 800-272-3900* Southeast Tennessee Area Agency for Aging and Disability: 866-836-6678
"The sooner you understand this disease is happening in your brain and slow down that progression, that is when you have real hope of many, many years of [high] quality of life," French said.
Standridge emphasized that Alzheimer's is not a normal part of aging, but a degenerative disease that changes the behavior and personality of those who have it.
Researchers are trying to find ways to diagnose Alzheimer's at the pre-clinical stage before symptoms arise, which could lead to breakthroughs in treating, and possibly curing, the disease, Standridge said.
The disease first affects the part of the brain that deals with memory and learning, then spreads to areas associated with speaking and speech comprehension. The disease progresses until the brain can no longer tell the body to perform basic functions such as breathing.
Today, an estimated 5.3 million Americans have Alzheimer's, including 250,000 to 500,000 people under age 65 who have early-onset Alzheimer's, Standridge said.
Those 5 million Alzheimer's patients cost as much to care for as 20 million diabetics, he said.
"This disease will bankrupt the country if we don't get control over it," he said.
As the population ages, the rates of Alzheimer's disease are expected to triple by 2050, experts say.
Barring breakthroughs in prevention of the disease, between 11 million and 16 million Americans over age 65 are expected to have Alzheimer's by 2050, according to the Alzheimer's Association.
Warning signs of Alzheimer's include memory loss that affects daily life, difficulty with familiar tasks, poor judgment and changes in mood and personality, according to the Alzheimer's Association.