Shortly after I graduated college, my mother's friends noticed something odd about her. My mother had always been very politically active, regularly attending local democratic town committee meetings, NOW meetings, and organizing events. Lately she had been confused at these meetings and wasn't participating as much as before. Several month later, we had a diagnosis. At the age of 53, my mother had Alzheimer's. My brother, my sister, and I moved back home to take care of her until she went into a nursing home. On April 28, 2001, she died.
Several years ago, my father's behavior became erratic. He was originally diagnosed with vascular dementia. The second opinion came back as Alzheimer's possibly mixed with vascular dementia. I spent the tenth anniversary of my mother's death moving my father into a secure assisted care facility. Finally, on May 27, 2015, he died.
A person having both parents died from Alzheimer’s disease is not that uncommon. Currently, about one third of seniors died from this disorder. It is also the sixth leading cause of death. Worse yet. It is the one of the top ten causes of death where there is no known cure or treatment. Death rates from Alzheimer’s will continue to go up and the rates of the other ten causes of death are going down. Having both parents die from Alzheimer’s is going to become more and more common.
We need your support! Please make a donation to help the Alzheimer's Association advance research into prevention, treatments and a cure for Alzheimer's. For the millions already affected by the disease, the Association offers care, education, support and resources in communities nationwide.
Thank you for joining our movement! The end of Alzheimer's disease starts here. Hope you can join us for the walk!
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