Alzheimer’s the Epidemic Many Haven’t Thought About

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, degenerative disease that attacks and kills neurons causing the brain to shrink. This process slowly in stages robs a person of their ability to think, plan, express themselves, and eventually take care of themselves. Millions of people across the world suffer from this disease for which there is no cure; and worse this number is rising quickly every year. The specific cause(s) for this disease is still unknown. However, scientists have pointed two key proteins (named beta-amyloid and tau) that play a big role in causing the neurons to die. It was discovered in 1906 by a German physician named Dr. Alois Alzheimer, it was named after him 4 years later. Awareness of Alzheimer’s has exponentially increased since its discovery and unfortunately so has the number of people worldwide it kills. “Currently 1 of out of 3 seniors will die of complications with Alzheimer’s or another type of Dementia; it kills more than breast and prostate cancer combined” (Facts and Figures, n.d.). This number will only get higher given time, especially with the population rising, and the only to prevent is to focus even more on finding a cure. We must build upon the framework started by former presidents Barack Obama and Ronald Reagan, great scientists like Dr. Katzman and spread awareness so one day a Dementia diagnosis won’t carry so much weight.