HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2006-03-01, Page 8Page 8 March 1, 2006 • The Huron Expositor
News
Alzheimer treatment has 'come so far' during 100 years
Jennifer Hubbard
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It's been 100 years since
Dr. Alois Alzheimer discov-
ered the progressive, degen-
erative brain disease that
now touches over 52 per
cent of Canadians.
And while there still is no
known cause or cure for
Alzheimer's disease, local
advocates say the "story is
changing."
"The first of the baby
boomers turned 60 this year
and when we look at the
population as a whole we
will see a huge increase in
the disease," explained
Maggie Brennan, public
education coordinator f
the Alzheimer Society of
Huron County.
"We will now have to put a
lot more effort and money
into diagnostic treatments
and support programs."
Following the 1906 discov-
ery, symptoms of
Alzheimer's were regarded
as a "normal" part of aging
first recognized as a disease.
"Things really sat still for
about 50 years until the
symptoms started showing
up in more people and it
wasn't until the 90s that we
actually found treatments
for the symptoms," Brennan
explained.
For now, Alzheimer's dis-
ease is diagnosed through a
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process of elimination,
because the only sure
way to know is by per-
forming an autopsy.
In 1997, the first of
three drug therapies to
ease symptoms of mild to
moderate Alzheimer's
disease became avail-
able.
Drug. treatments for
moderate to advanced
Alzheimer's became
available in 2004.
According to the soci-
ety's statistics, an esti-
mated . 290,000
Canadians over 65 have
Alzheimer's disease.
Locally, 1,122 — about 10
per cent — of seniors liv-
ing in Huron County are
living with Alzheimer's
or related dementias.
The arms of Alzheimer's
are further reaching
however, said Brennan,
because 60-70 per cent of
Huron residents know
someone who has the
disease.
An estimated $5.5
billion a year is spent on
Canadians with
Alzheimer's disease and
related dementias.
Despite the fact that the
number of people with
Alzheimer's are expected
to increase by 10-20 per
cent in the next 10 years,
Brennan is hopeful good.
things will continue to
happen.
"We've come so far in
100 years and most of
the crucial discoveries
have been in the 90s or
later and that's not very
long."
While the search for a
cure continues, a blood
or cerebral spinal fluid
test for diagnosis, new
drugs and a vaccine are ,
in the works.
Awareness and educa-
tion is also key in the
fight against Alzheimer's
because of the stigma
attached to the disease.
"People are afraid of dis-
eases because they are
the unknown. When I
was a child we didn't
talk . about cancer. My
grandma had cancer, but we
called it 'her condition,'"
Brennan recalled.
"Alzheimer's is starting to
come out of that closet as
people start to understand
more. The -more you know,
the more you can be pre-
pared. You can look to the
future and know what's
coming. Sometimes that can
make it easier to get`'
through."
2006 marks the 13th year
of existence for the Huron
society, which is dedicated to
serving those affected by
Alzheimer's disease or relat-
ed dementias.
The Huron branch office is
located, just off of Highway
8 in Clinton.
For many years the soci-
ety has focused on providing
support for caregivers and
people in the early stages of
the disease through a vari-
ety of programs and ser-
vices.
March will see the devel-
opment of a pilot linked
caregiver support group and
`cultural night' for those
experiencing thedisease in
Grand Bend.
"This way the caregivers
know theydon't have to
leave their loved ones at
home when they come out to
the group and that's a scary
idea, when people are in the
later stages of the disease,"
Brennan said.
"This will ease their
minds and allow their loved
ones to participate in some
activities."
"It's a big change for us,
but we're hoping as a pilot
project it will grow and
hopefully we can take it to
other areas of the county,"
executive director Cathy
Ritsema added.
In the eight years since
she began working with the
society, Ritsema has seen
the staff grow more than
four times its original size.
"That alone shows that
there's been a huge growth
of need within the communi-
ty," she explained.
"Another. pivotal point for
us was when we started to
receive funding for educa-
tion, allowing us to be out
there in the community.
"We've always known the
need was there, but now
that people can see us we're
seeing the numbers climb-
ing even higher." •