100,000 Oklahomans To Develop Alzheimers By 2030

A new study says one in eight baby boomers are expected to develop Alzheimer's disease and there may be 100,000 Oklahomans with the disease by 2030.

http://www.ktul.com/news/stories/0308/506275.html (Bolded by me)

While this sounds like a huge number, they mentioned already 70,000 people have Alzheimers now. The baby boomer population would easily make the numbers rise in the next 22 years. It sounds as if they are using this for the shock value to push their bills through. However, if it means special attention will be given to this disease...it is only a positive.

EUTHANASIA....should be legal

OK, so let's clarify --
It's not just Oklahomans, right? :bang:

Linda7NJ said:

EUTHANASIA....should be legal

Click to expand...

Wait, are you being sarcastic?

What's this thread about?

ROFL

I am the 1 in 8 in this family. I will probably have Alzheimer's in my 50's. I want to see what tests are available for early tracking because it kind of scares me and I want to be prepared.

In this study, it is just Oklahomans. I would be in the category of 1 in 8 baby boomers who could fall to Alzheimers.

Taximom said:

What's this thread about?

ROFL

I am the 1 in 8 in this family. I will probably have Alzheimer's in my 50's. I want to see what tests are available for early tracking because it kind of scares me and I want to be prepared.

Click to expand...

It is a serious thread about a bill they are trying to get passed.

The bill has passed the state Senate and is pending in the House Human Services Committee.

http://www.ktul.com/news/stories/0308/506275.html

SeriouslySearching said:

A new study says one in eight baby boomers are expected to develop Alzheimer's disease and there may be 100,000 Oklahomans with the disease by 2030.

http://www.ktul.com/news/stories/0308/506275.html (Bolded by me)

While this sounds like a huge number, they mentioned already 70,000 people have Alzheimers now. The baby boomer population would easily make the numbers rise in the next 22 years. It sounds as if they are using this for the shock value to push their bills through. However, if it means special attention will be given to this disease...it is only a positive.

Click to expand...

It's not looking good for me - I spend half every day with my mother who has Parkinsons' Dementia, it's very similar.

As we live longer because of medical gains, we get older and more likely to get alzheimers. I think by about age 80, one in 2 oldsters has it.

My husband and I have taken out Long Term Care Insurance, which helps pay the bills if you have to go to a nursing home. Medicare will only pay for 90 days.

SS, I know it's a serious thread. I was just showing you how bad my memory is.... lol

Taximom said:

What's this thread about?

ROFL

I am the 1 in 8 in this family. I will probably have Alzheimer's in my 50's. I want to see what tests are available for early tracking because it kind of scares me and I want to be prepared.

Click to expand...

Taximom, I used to work in an Alzheimer unit. I hope you can find some good testing and I hope this disease does not affect you. Sincerely. I know why LindaN7J said what she said and I have to agree with her. I doubt she was being sarcastic. If you had seen what I've seen I think you'd agree about the euthanasia too.

trixie, I haven't seen what you've seen, I guess. I jest, but I am also very serious about my memory, or lack of. I think I am too young to be forgetting some of the things I do. Anyway, I hope nobody was offended by my little joke. It's more about myself anyway.

Maximum said:

Wait, are you being sarcastic?

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Absolutely no sarcasm here. *I* do not want to ever live not recognizing my own son. I would want to spare my love ones the pain and techniqually, I wouldn't be in my body anymore, it would just be a shell of my former self. In my opinion.

If I ever start to show symptoms and am diagnosed with the onset of the disease, Ill off myself before I ever let myself get to that point.

Who's Maximum?! That was weird.

I respect your thoughts and opinions, Linda7NJ. I guess I haven't seen what it does to a person. I think of Nancy Reagan taking care of Ronald all those years. Maybe the big thing there is she had lots of help, and maybe money to help ease the onset? I don't know. Just thinking out loud. It must be very difficult to go through.

Linda7NJ said:

Absolutely no sarcasm here. *I* do not want to ever live not recognizing my own son. I would want to spare my love ones the pain and techniqually, I wouldn't be in my body anymore, it would just be a shell of my former self. In my opinion.

If I ever start to show symptoms and am diagnosed with the onset of the disease, Ill off myself before I ever let myself get to that point.

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you're exactly right;; it's harder on the family members and the caretakers of the person who slowly fades out. But you might change your mind as the time comes. It's hard to say, "goodbye".

My mother would not have wanted to be this way, but you slowly fade out and don't quite realize how bad you've gotten.

Alzeimer's patients often get violent as well, turning on their spouses. Yesterday, at the nursing home my mother bit someone and attacked someone else with a fork. Just like a child, they get upset if someone "tells them what to do".

It's like your mind goes backwards and you become somewhat like a child again.

I believe in euthanasia (by self choice, of course), especially for terminal cancer and diseases like als (Lou Gehrig's). I'm sure there are more people who commit suicide in these cases than we know.

Alzheimer's patients have no idea how badly the disease affects them. That is their blessing when they have the disease. The family and caretakers are who should prayed for..for strength and patience. Alzheimer's is a terrible disease. My mother had it 5 years before she died. One of my Yaya's was diagnosed with Dementia, most likely Alzheimers 9 months ago. She is only 55. It's stolen her mind and body.

If I have the slightest inkling that I have the disease, I'd take my own life. I don't want may husband and kids to go through what my daddy and I did with my mom.

Taximom said:

SS, I know it's a serious thread. I was just showing you how bad my memory is.... lol

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:doh: :laugh: I knew that! (mumbling under my breath...I should get checked sooner than 2030)

You know, I don't know anyone who truly wants to be a burden on their loved ones and particularly with such a disease. I think the answer is not in suicide, but in research.

I have spent many years with my grands in nursing homes and have witnessed so many families dealing with it. It breaks your heart to know what they are going through and how difficult it must be for your loved one not to know you anymore. My grandmother developed dementia off and on...but she would still come around with a flicker of acknowledgement. I relished those moments with her.

Someday, maybe with the bills they pass and the studies they do will come some type of effective treatment for this disease so families won't suffer the ills of this horrible disease.

On a lighter note:

I told my kids to make sure they kept me stocked in cigars, viagra, and good scotch...if they ever have to put me away. They looked at me like I was already out of my mind. I explained I wanted to be the most popular old gal in the place and those were the 3 things that could keep the old gents hanging around. LOL

I want to comment about Alzheimers vs. Dementia. My dad developed demenita at about 80. My mom occasionally needed a break and he went to an adult daycare center 2 times a week run by a local facility. She was contacted by the Jewish Home for the Aged in Miami who was running some testing for Alzheimers/Dementia for research. We are not Jewish, but they said their testing was all inclusive and for research. They tested my dad for months and nothing indicated Alzheimers, just normal aged dementia. In return, they picked up my dad for several years 3 times a week and returned him home each day. Great people and a great service to the community.

Now as to one of my very best friends, and I can't post this without a tear in my eye, died of Alzheimer's at the age of 57. It came on quickly and he was dead within 5 years. I was out here in Colorado and he was in Melbourne, Florida, but other classmates visited him until the end and we exchanged e-mails constantly. For the final two years he didn't recognize any of our classmates. Here's a man who would call almost every weekend and ask "Hey, are you up for sailing?" My answer was always, "You bet your sweet *advertiser censored** I am, what do I bring for lunch?" Thanks to him, I became an excellent sailor and could handle a 26 foot Morgan sailboat by myself. Memories of sailing to a Jimmy Buffet concert and anchoring right by the stage, weekend trips to Bimini, cruising the intercoastal waterway and barhopping along the way. Those memories of my adult continuation of high school friendships will always be precious. To loose a vital, wonderful friend so quickly to Alzheimer's was horrible.

From what I've learned, we call almost everything Alzheimer's, even dementia in the elderly. I think the actual numbers are inflated.

Awww, what a sweet yet heartwrenching story, BarnGoddess. I am sure you will miss your friend, but the memories you made together sound so special! He sounds like a remarkable man.

Marthatex~ I am so sorry you have had to go through this with your mother, too. You have my heartfelt wishes and prayers. I know you are a strong woman and are dealing with everything as best you can. Just know somewhere in her heart, I honestly believe she knows you are by her side.