Most of us are aware of AD or Alzheimers disease, its effect on patients diagnosed with this disease and also its impact on family members of an AD patient. For those that dont know, Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative condition that is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for 60 to 80 percent of cases. Estimates show that 6-8 percent of people over age 65 are affected by Alzheimer’s disease, totaling approximately 5.3 million people in the United States alone. Every 70 seconds, an American is developing Alzheimer’s disease, and it is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States. The direct and indirect health care costs associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias in the U.S. are estimated to be about $150 billion.

In 2005, the total cost worldwide of dementia, of which Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause, was estimated at $315.4 billion. The burden to caregivers and health care costs can increase dramatically in the late stages of Alzheimer’s disease, when patients cannot maintain independent function and are frequently bedridden.

As an individual whose family member has been diagnosed with this disease, i have personally witnessed the deterioration in cognitive abilities, memory loss, aggression, mood swings etc. Initially when we first started noticing changes in her behaviour, we thought it was because of her old age and did not think it was a matter of concern. In a short time, her behavior changed for the worse and conditions started deteriorating fast. Inspite of multiple doctor visits, she was not diagnosed. We were told that these are condition very common to old age. We believed the doctor.

Now, when i think back, had she been diagnosed earlier, we could have been more prudent, thoughtful & provided her with the right level of care. Morever, we could have educated ourselves & been better equipped.

On the flip side, on another blog, i read the story of a man named Jimmy Novells, who was told he had Parkinsons & then told he had Alzheimers. He was treated for both. It later turned out that he had neither.

As a conclusion, diagnosis and misdiagnosis, i think are very critical especially for a disease of this nature.