Perhaps one of the most feared illnesses known to humankind is Alzheimer’s disease. Quite possibly the fact that nobody is exempt from this grey specter of advanced age is a major contributing factor. Another sobering aspect is the fact that there is no known cure for the illness as of yet, and it will last from the onset until the end of life. Yet what might strike terror in the heart of many is the fact that even the most robust and self-sufficient sufferer from this illness will – over time – devolve into a dependent individual who will need to rely on the kindness of family, friends, and even complete strangers to function. For many, the last stop in this sad journey is a long-term care facility where she or he will be housed, fed, and cleaned up after by a well trained staff.
While this may appear to be a doom and gloom prognosis, keep in mind that all over the world people are succumbing to this grave illness. Here are four interesting facts about Alzheimer’s that you may not have been aware of!
1.The fact that more and more nations around the globe are entering the age of industrialization has taken its toll on the population of senior citizens. Suddenly those who would live in small villages around the world and be taken care of by a loving son or daughter are left to their own devices as their grown children are packing up and moving to the big cities to compete there for work and fortune. This has added a new strain on the social services of many countries. Consider for example that in China alone, the United States Census Bureau has estimated a number as high as 19 million to be diagnosed with this disease, while many others have not been diagnosed at all!
2.If we may believe a survey done in 1992 by the Gallup people, one out of every ten Americans surveyed stated that she or he knew of a family member who suffered from the illness either at the current time, or at a time in the past.
3.As early as 1989, a group by the name of JAMA advised that quite possibly more than 50 percent of American citizens who have reached their 85th year of life are affected by Alzheimer’s disease.
4.Yet quite possibly the most stunning fact about this serious illness is the fact that the number of Alzheimer’s sufferers in the United States have doubled since the 1980s!
With so many people saving up their hard earned funds for a well deserved retirement in their golden years, it will become a bitter reality that many will eat up their funds not for a cruise around the world, but for a long-term care facility to pay others to take care of them after they find themselves being unable to do so themselves. It is uncertain what will become of those who have neither the funds to pay for such care, nor a set of friends or family who will take care of them.
