New breakthrough in Alzheimer’s research
Alzheimer’s disease affects more than 5 million people in America, it’s the 6th leading cause of death and every 66 seconds someone in the U.S. develops it. These staggering numbers have only climbed over the years and researchers predict by the year 2050 as many as 16 million people will have the disease.
But over the course of 5 years, Dr. Dean Hartley of the Alzheimer’s Association believes they may have found a breakthrough in research. 47 ABC spoke with Dr. Hartley and he says, “The earlier you diagnose with the earlier treatment will give you a better outcome.”
Dr. Dean Hartley wants to make one thing clear. Alzheimer’s is not natural aging, it’s a disease. While those who have a family history of it are more likely to get it later in life, it does not discriminate.
Dr. Hartley says, “Anybody who has a brain, you’re vulnerable to Alzheimer’s disease.” According to research, 1 in 9 people could develop it by the age 65 and 1 in 3 develop it by age 85. While there are currently no treatments for the disease, there are a number of potential preventative measures like regular exercise and getting enough sleep. Dr. Hartley also encourages regular checkups for levels of blood pressure and blood sugar.
Hartley tells 47 ABC, “The other thing we’re finding very exciting is we think there’s things like education things like nutrition exercise mental and social engagement are now starting to show that they may reduce the risk for Alzheimer’s disease.”
Someone all too familiar with the disease is Bill Martin. Martin lost his mother 18 months ago to Alzheimer’s. She was diagnosed ten years ago and Martin says about two years after that, she started fading.
Martin tells 47 ABC, “Changing her personality and strong changes in personality, she got to the point where she didn’t recognize her own children, she had 7 children, I’m the oldest she didn’t know who we were.”
The family put her in a full time facility where she received services from the Alzheimer’s Association. She remained under care at the facility until her death on December 9th, one month shy of her 90th birthday.
Martin tells 47 ABC, “It was difficult to go through but it would’ve been a lot more difficult without the support and the people that are available there.”
Martin’s mother was an older woman and Doctor Hartley says there’s a kind of ageism associated with Alzheimer’s.
Dr. Hartley tells 47 ABC, “Some of it also is the fact that its a disease that you see later in life and for that reason there’s a stigma, they had a good life right so this disease is not as critical as thinking about cancer earlier in life, but the dignity of life at any age is critically important.”
Also critically important is finding a cure, and the funding and volunteer efforts it will take to achieve. Dr. Hartley tells 47 ABC, “We know its the resources that will change this disease its not a matter of if its just a matter of when and those resources are so critical.”
Dr. Hartley also points out that there is a way for anyone at home to easily be involved with the research studies. All you have to do is visit “Trial Match”, which is a free service, and you can do everything from your own home.
