Health Matters
Are You At Risk For Alzheimer’s Disease?
By Marcia
McKenzie, Community Services Coordinator, Alzheimer’s Association
As we look back into our past and journey forward
into our future, now is certainly an appropriate time to educate the family and
community on issues that affect our heritage.
Sharing information on diseases that affect the family is an excellent
way of showing love for each other.
Diseases such as cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke and
Alzheimer’s are disturbingly prevalent in the Black family, with the risk
factors being much greater for a Black person as compared to a White person.
Just
think, if we don’t educate the younger generation on these fatal diseases and,
sometimes, simple, preventative measures, the successes we enjoy today may be
lost as they become burdened with sickness and disability in the future. Start a new tradition this year. Educate your family on health issues that may
affect them.
One
such disease is Alzheimer’s, which is a progressive, degenerative disease of
the brain. Its causes are unknown, and
there currently is no cure. The most
common symptom is memory loss. But
Alzheimer’s disease (“AD”) is more than just forgetting where the keys are. A
person with Alzheimer’s experiences confusion, personality and behavior
changes, impaired judgment, and difficulty finding words, finishing thoughts,
or following directions. Eventually, the
disease leaves the person unable to perform even the simplest tasks of daily
living, and they become totally dependent on others for constant care and
supervision.
An
estimated 4 million Americans are afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease. It is the fourth leading cause of death among
American adults, after heart disease, cancer and stroke. An estimated 14 million will have the disease
by the year 2050. One in 10 persons over 65 and nearly half of those over 85
have AD. A small percentage of people as
young as in their 30’s and 40’s get the disease.
In
Massachusetts, Alzheimer’s disease is the seventh leading cause of death (MA
Dept. of Public Health, 2001), and there are approximately 140,000 people with
the disease. Springfield, the third
largest city in Massachusetts, is estimated to have over 3,300 people with AD
(Alzheimer’s Association [MA] Prevalence Data Study 2002). Seventy percent of individuals with
Alzheimer’s Disease live in the community.
Although Alzheimer’s currently has no cure, there
are treatments available to slow the progression of the disease. Recent research into Alzheimer’s prevention
has shown us that there are ways to reduce your risk factors for getting the
disease.
The
Springfield Alzheimer’s Services Project provides free assistance, support and
education to the African American/Black and Latino communities of
Springfield. The Community Outreach
Coordinators (
If you need assistance or would like to be added to our
mailing list for upcoming free events, please call Marcia McKenzie, Alzheimer’s
Association at