The Disease of Alzheimers Problem in the United States - Essay Example

?Research has shown that one of the leading causes of death among males in the US is Alzheimer’s. However, there is no cure for this disease and it seems that there is little action being taken in order to address it. As such, this paper seeks to critically discuss the relevance of the topic in the healthcare system of the people in the US. The paper starts by explaining the meaning of the disease in order to get a clear understanding of the whole concept. This will be followed by discussing various issues presented in different literature related to the topic. Alzheimer's disease is described as “the degenerative brain condition that is not content to kill its victims without first snuffing out their essence,” (Park, 2010). This type of disease can also be described as memory loss or forgetfulness and it is very common among the elderly people. This condition is responsible for causing more deaths among the males in the US. Schaie & Willis (2002) suggest that dementia of the mind can be attributed to old age and this is seen as a normal development in the life of the human beings. According to Thomas (1996), research has shown that the majority of adults who have what he calls Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) are not aware of their condition and the number of people affected is greater than imagined. Park (2010) posits to the effect that “More than 5 million Americans currently suffer from Alzheimer's disease, a number that will grow to 13.4 million by 2050. There is no cure.” The other problem related to this disease is that there is no definite test for Alzheimer and the therapies that exist include drugs and lifestyle behaviors which include keeping the mind busy through games and puzzles as well as trying to enrich social relationships with other people. However, these techniques can only can “only delay, not stop, the onset of memory loss, confusion and cognitive decline that generally extend over a period of several years,” Park (2010). In the long run, a cure for this disease should be found since it poses a threat to the healthcare of people. The CDC (2011) also states that the cause for this particular disease is yet to be discovered but it is more prevalent among the people who are above 60 years. This disease is a burden on the in the United States given that it is one of the top ten leading causes of death in that country. According to CDC (2011) the only remedies available include therapies that are offered by voluntary organizations in the US. These specifically provide home based care to the people affected by this disease and at times they provide training programs such as exercise as well as performing other activities like reading and watching television since they help to keep their mind active. The people who offer voluntary work to the affected people also teach them different lifestyle activities that can help them to live health lives. These include aspects such as good diet which can significantly improve their health. The people affected by this disease can also get medication as prescribed by their physicians. The government and other healthcare agencies have spent a lot of money through assisting people affected by this disease. “The cost of health care for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia was estimated to be 200 billion dollars in 2012, including 140 billion dollars in costs to Medicare and Medicaid and is expected to reach 1.1 trillion dollars in 2050,” (Tejada-Vera, 2013, p. 1). More resources are being spent in dealing with this problem hence the need for holistic measures that can address the problem once and for all. These groups spend quite a lot of money procuring drugs that can be used by the patients. Part of the money is also used for educational programs that are meant to create awareness among the Americans about the dangers of this disease. It has been realized that a lot of people often ignore the existence of this epidemic which is responsible for causing a lot of premature deaths in the US. The other important aspect about Alzheimer’s disease is that it is characterised by certain symptoms. According to Alzheimer’s Association (2013, p.7), “The most common symptom pattern begins with a gradually worsening ability to remember new information. This occurs because the first neurons to die and malfunction are usually neurons in brain regions involved in forming new memories.” The person suffering from this disease also displays symptoms such as trouble completing tasks, viewing visual images, reduced judgement, losing things as well as withdrawal from other activities such as work. Overall, the major symptom of Alzheimer’s is related to loss of memory where it can be seen that a parson suffering from such disease cannot easily recall recent events. The mortality rates for Alzheimer’s disease are on the rise this is the reason why more research needs to be taken in order to tackle this problem. However, the study by (Tejada-Vera, 2013) has shown that Alzheimer’s disease mortality varies by age, sex, race, Hispanic origin. According to this study, “Overall, women had a 30 percent higher risk of dying (27.3 per 100,000 population) from Alzheimer’s disease than men (21.0). Non-Hispanic white women had the highest mortality rate from Alzheimer’s disease, followed by non-Hispanic black women,” (Tejada-Vera, 2013, p. 3). Likewise, mortality rate for this disease is also high non-Hispanic white men (22.0) followed by non– Hispanic black men (18.2). Alzheimer’s Association (2013) report also concurs with the findings of the study mentioned above where it states that “More women than men have Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Almost two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer’s are women,” (p.17). The report states that out of about 5 million people over the age of 65 and older with Alzheimer’s in the United States, 3.2 million are women and 1.8 million are men. The main reason attributed for this state of affairs is that it is believed that women live longer than men and this disease is also compounded by old age. Fox (2013) also reports that the rising cases of mortality caused by Alzheimer’s disease are a cause for concern. In a report, Fox states that “The University of Washington team looked at Alzheimer's trends and found it’s already up 392 percent as a cause of premature death, as measured by years of life lost.” This presents a gloomy picture especially in the state of affairs of the healthcare system in the US. Productive life is lost as a result of this particular disease and it also negatively impacts on the economic performance of the country since more money will be channelled towards addressing the negative impacts of this disease instead of being used for other developmental purposes. In the same vein, a report by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (2013, p. 6) states that, “To ensure a health system is adequately aligned to a population’s true health challenges policymakers must be able to compare the effects of different diseases that kill people prematurely and cause ill health.” As noted from different studies, Alzheimer’s disease is no exception since it is causing a lot of premature deaths in the US. The statistics show that the mortality rate for Alzheimer’s disease is a cause for concern and more action is required in order to address this particular problem. Basically, the studies reviewed above showed that Alzheimer’s disease is real though there is little research that has been carried in order to establish its real causes. There is also no known cure for this particular disease and it estimated that it causes thousands of death each year. According to Alzheimer’s Association (2013, p.27) “Between 2000 and 2010, deaths attributed to Alzheimer’s disease increased 68 percent, while those attributed to the number one cause of death, heart disease, decreased 16 percent.” These statistics are a cause for concern given that this disease that is often taken lightly by many people has claimed the lives of many people and it is estimated that the figure will rise if no action has been taken in order to abate the prevalence of the disease. In conclusion, it can be noted that Alzheimer’s disease has been officially declared the 6th leading cause of death in the US. Although research has shown that this disease is more prevalent among women than men in contrast to the widely held belief, it can be seen that the prevalence of this disease requires a holistic approach in order to effectively deal with it. One funny thing about this particular disease is that people who have it are not aware of it in most cases. As such, these people often die silently. Apart from loss of life, millions of dollars are lost through provision of healthcare for people who have been affected by this disease. A holistic approach should be taken in order to deal with the problem discussed above. The following measures can be taken by the responsible authorities in the US. For instance, further research should be carried out in order to establish the main causes of this disease. Physicians and other people alike should be given the opportunity to carry out researches so that they can be in a position to identify its root causes. Further research should also be carried out in order to establish the treatment of this disease since the statistics above have indicated that there has been a steady increase in the number of deaths caused by this particular disease over the past decade. The other viable method that can be implemented in order to deal with this disease is to sponsor programs that are meant to educate people as well as to raise awareness among them about the dangers of this disease. These programs should be designed in such a way that they enlighten people not to shun information about this epidemic since it may be helpful for them to live healthy lives. These programs should also be designed in such a way that people are empowered with knowledge that is meant to help them to take preventive measures against the epidemic. References Alzheimer’s Association (2013). 2013 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures, Alzheimer’s & Dementia, Volume 9, Issue 2. Viewed from: . CDC (2011). Alzheimer's Disease. Viewed from: . Fox, M. (March 5, 2013). “Alzheimer's fastest-growing health threat, report says.” NBC News. Viewed from: . Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (2013). The Global Burden of Disease: Generating Evidence, Guiding Policy. Seattle, WA: IHME. Park, A. (31 October, 2010) “New Research on Understanding Alzheimer's: After years of disappointing vaccine and drug trials, researchers are finding new ways to interrupt the memory-robbing disease of Alzheimer's, just in time for an anticipated explosion in cases.” Time Magazine. Viewed from: . Schaie, K.W., & Willis, S. L (2002). Adult Development and Aging, (5th ed.). New Jersey: Prentice Hall. Tejada-Vera, B. (2013). “Mortality From Alzheimer’s Disease in the United States: Data for 2000 and 2010.” NCHS Data Brief No. 116. Viewed from: . Thomas J.L. (1996). Do you have Attention Deficit Disorder? New York. Dell Publishing. Read More