ELDRED, NY — As time goes by, many people find themselves making a bad decision once in a while, missing an occasional monthly payment, forgetting which day it is, forgetting which word to use, or losing items. They may wonder—is this the beginning of dementia?

The reassuring answer is usually “no.” These are signs of normal aging.

Dementia is a general term for the loss of memory and other cognitive abilities serious enough to interfere with everyday life. Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 60 to 80% of all dementia, though there are many different forms and causes of the condition.

Bonnie Lewis, a registered nurse and dependent-care subject educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE), shared facts, statistics and experiences about dementia in general and Alzheimer’s disease in particular were shared among a varied group of caregivers and others gathered at the Sunshine Hall Free Library in Eldred earlier this month.

Alzheimer’s is a disease that kills cells in the brain, is progressive in nature, is the most common form of dementia, is eventually fatal and currently affects more than five million Americans. 

This insidious disease has not only a high cost to those who suffer from it, but it also takes its toll on the estimated 16.1 million Americans who provide unpaid care to family members and loved ones. If these unpaid caretakers were compensated, it would bankrupt the healthcare industry as it is currently. There are not enough paid caregivers available to fill the need.

Alzheimer’s destroys some of the more than 100 billion neurons in the brain involved in forming memory, thoughts and feelings. 

Aging is the major risk factor for the disease. One in 10 individuals 65 or older, and nearly one-third of individuals 85 or older, have Alzheimer’s. The incidence is higher in women than men, largely due to the fact that women live longer. Research has shown that those with a parent or sibling with Alzheimer’s are more likely to develop the disease than those who do not.

Research also suggests that proven strategies for overall aging may help keep the brain healthy and may even reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s. This includes eating a nutritious diet, staying socially active, avoiding tobacco and excess alcohol and exercising both the body and mind. There is a strong correlation between heart-health and brain-health. The risk of developing Alzheimer’s or vascular dementia appears to be increased by many conditions that damage the heart and blood vessels.

The signs of dementia are often more obvious to family members and friends. Medical intervention usually starts at the primary-care level, and involves further evaluation. Review of medical history, evaluation of mood and mental status,  and a neurological exam are all part of the evaluation.

In Sullivan County, contact Bonnie Lewis at the Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Caregiver Resource Center at 845/292-6180 ext. 122.

Correction

In the Democratic primary race for commissioners in Wayne County, Wendell Kay scored more votes than his opponent Jocelyn Cramer, but both will appear on the ballot in the fall.  They will run against Republicans Joe Adams and Brian Smith, for a total of three seats.