November is National Alzheimer?s Disease (AD) Month. More than four million Americans have AD, and 19 million Americans have a family member with the disease. With the graying of America, the incidence of AD will increase. Clinicians are expecting the numbers to rise from approximately four million cases to nearly ten million cases by 2030. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) estimates there are approximately 571,000 Veterans with dementia. This includes an estimated 333,000 Veterans with dementia who are enrolled for VA health care, with an estimated 206,000 receiving care at a VA medical facility.
Baltimore, MD (PRWEB) November 16, 2012
November is National Alzheimer?s Disease (AD) Month. More than four million Americans have AD, and 19 million Americans have a family member with the disease. With the graying of America, the incidence of AD will increase. Clinicians are expecting the numbers to rise from approximately four million cases to nearly ten million cases by 2030. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) estimates there are approximately 571,000 Veterans with dementia. This includes an estimated 333,000 Veterans with dementia who are enrolled for VA health care, with an estimated 206,000 receiving care at a VA medical facility.A progressive, irreversible condition, AD is the most common cause of dementia, which is a general term for a decline in memory and other thinking skills severe enough to reduce a person's ability to perform everyday activities. While AD is the most common cause of dementia-- a wide range of illnesses can cause dementia. Dr. David Loreck, a geriatric psychiatrist at the VA Maryland Health Care System who oversees the health care system?s outpatient clinic for comprehensive AD assessments, says that dementia, or disabling mental decline, is not part of the normal aging process, as many people still believe. While scientists grow closer to understanding how AD can be prevented or cured, and even though recent treatment developments include drugs that can provide mild improvement in symptoms, there are no drugs that can stop its advance or provide a cure for AD or related dementias. However, Loreck offers the following tips that can optimize brain health:
Care for Veterans with cognitive impairment is a high priority for the VA Maryland Health Care System with many Veterans returning from Iraq with traumatic brain injury. Increased attention of cognitive impairment with returning Veterans is hoped to translate to increased awareness when cognitive problems occur in the aging Veteran population.
Editor?s Note: Dr. Loreck is available as a subject matter expert on Alzheimer?s disease and dementias. To arrange an interview time, please e-mail Rosalia Scalia at rosalia(dot)scalia(at)va(dot0gov.
Rosalia Scalia
Veterans Health Administration
410-605-7464
Email Information
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/va-maryland-health-care-system-offers-tips-during-200044632.html
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