Take a Moment to Think About Alzheimer's

Every day, we hear about Alzheimer's Disease, yet for many of us, we only have a vague notion of what it is. According to the National Library of Medicine, Alzheimer's Disease is the most common form of dementia, a brain disorder that first affects thought, language, and memory. "In AD, over time, symptoms get worse. People may not recognize family members or have trouble speaking, reading or writing. They may forget how to brush their teeth or comb their hair. Later on, they may become anxious or aggressive, or wander away from home. Eventually, they need total care." While Alzheimer's generally affects older adults, early-onset Alzheimer's can affect people much younger.

So why is it something we should care about? Frankly, because it affects a lot of people. According to the Alzheimer's Association, more than 5 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer's Disease, and more than 500,000 people a year die of the disease, making it the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Furthermore, one out of every three senior citizens dies with Alzheimer's or another form of dementia. Check out the video below for a quick rundown on the state of Alzheimer's today.

The St. Louis Public Library has lots of resources for those dealing with Alzheimer's and their caregivers, and for those who hope to stave off the disease through maintaining social and mental stimulation. Check out the list below for some examples.

• The Handbook of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias
• Encyclopedia of Alzheimer's Disease by Elaine A. Moore with Lisa Moore
• The Validation Breakthrough: Simple Techniques for Communicating with People with Alzheimer's and Other Dementias by Naomi Feil and Vicki de Klerk-Rubin
• The Alzheimer's Answer: Reduce Your Risk and Keep Your Brain Healthy by Marwan Sabbagh
• Alzheimer's in America: The Shriver Report on Women and Alzheimer's
• The Alzheimer's Action Plan by P. Murali Doriaswamy and Lisa P. Gwyther with Tina Adler
• 100 Simple Things You Can Do to Prevent Alzheimer's and Age-Related Memory Loss by Jean Carper
• Loving Someone Who Has Dementia: How to Find Hope While Coping with Stress and Grief by Pauline Boss
• Memory Books and Other Graphic Cuing Systems: Practical Communication and Memory Aids for Adults with Dementia by Michelle S. Bourgeois

You can also check out these online resources.

• The Alzheimer's Association has a great section that gives an overview of the different risk factors, treatments, and stages of Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. There's also a page explaining preventative measures that can help decrease your risk for developing Alzheimer's Disease.
• The National Institute on Aging has a downloadable and printable booklet explaining the basics of Alzheimer's, as well as another booklet on prevention of the disease.
• The Washington University School of Medicine's Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Facility provides a lot of great information on the research being done locally on Alzheimer's Disease, including how to get involved in clinical studies.
• The Alzheimer's Project is a four-part documentary series created by HBO, in partnership with the National Institute on Aging, the Alzheimer's Association, the Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund, and the Geoffrey Been Gives Back Alzheimer's Initiative. The entire series can be viewed free of charge on HBO's website.
• The Nemours Foundation has a great page discussing how to explain Alzheimer's to children.
• Finally, any list of Alzheimer's Disease resources must include some sites to help support caregivers. Check out these pages from the National Library of Medicine, the Alzheimer's Association, and the National Institute on Aging.