TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Hernando Today

Early-onset Alzheimer's happens

ADVERTISEMENT

By GARY JOSEPH LeBLANC

Common Sense Caregiving

Published: October 22, 2009

Updated: 10/23/2009 07:56 pm

Although, symptoms of Alzheimer's first begin to appear at in people that are in their late 60s, there are an estimated 200,000 people under the age of 65 afflicted with the early-onset of the disease. Studies show that there are cases of patients' in their 30s and 40s, but this is profoundly rare.

Sadly, a large percentage of the younger patients who develop early-onset Alzheimer's have a parent or grandparent who also contracted the disease prematurely.

When this disease invades so early in life, a number of new problems quickly unfold. These newly stricken patients could still be caring for a parent afflicted with the same illness. Family members, neighbors and co-workers may ridicule them by berating that person as being straight-out lazy, when the fact the matter is Alzheimer's has destroyed their motivation. Commonly, the patient experiences heavy bouts of depression and frustration. Marriage troubles often develop from being misunderstood and undiagnosed.

According to the Alzheimer's Association, 80 percent of these patients will lose their employment and their corresponding income.

One problem evolves from some medical benefits not being provided until the patient is over the age of 65. Last July the Social Security Administration (SSA) held a hearing to analyze the possibility of approving Social Security Disability benefits for people developing early-onset Alzheimer's.

The SSA is currently hosting a public comment period wherein any individual may voice an opinion in support of adding younger-onset Alzheimer's patients to the Compassionate Allowance List, a listing of inoperable and unresolvable conditions categorized by the SSA. Since Alzheimer's is the sixth leading cause of death in United States, I cannot understand why there should even be a debate about this issue.

If you wish to participate and voice your public opinion, you can go to the Alzheimer's Association website at www.alz.org Then in the search window, type in "Federal Update." From that page there is a link stating, "submit a letter of support." This will forward you to where you can place your comment, addresses are already attached. Every voice will help these younger people who have contracted early-onset of Alzheimer's.

Gary Joseph Le Blanc was the primary caregiver of his father for more than eight years after he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. He can be e-mailed at us41books@bellsouth.net.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT