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Alzheimer’s
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Page 8 • June 2022 • Golden Gazette The Longest Day: Understanding Alzheimer’s & dementia
The Longest Day is the day with the most light – the summer solstice.
On June 21, people from across the world will fi ght the darkness of Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia, a general term for memory loss and other cognitive abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life.
Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 60-80% of dementia cases.
Alzheimer’s is not a normal part of aging.
The greatest known risk factor is increasing age, and the majority of people with Alzheimer’s are 65 and older.
Alzheimer’s disease is considered to be youngeronset Alzheimer’s if it aff ects a person under 65.
Younger-onset can also be referred to as early-onset Alzheimer’s. People with younger-onset Alzheimer’s can be in the early, middle or late stage of the disease.
Alzheimer’s worsens over time.
Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease, where dementia symptoms gradually worsen over a number of years.
In its early stages, memory loss is mild, but with latestage Alzheimer’s, individuals lose the ability to carry on a conversation and respond to their environment.
On average, a person with Alzheimer’s lives 4 to 8 years after diagnosis but can live as long as 20 years, depending on other factors.
The 2022 Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Lubbock is set for Nov. 5 in the Moonlight Musicals Amphitheater, 413 E. Broadway in Mackenzie Park.
More information will be available online at alz.org or by email to hesimmons@alz. org, 806-412-0729. - Source: alz.org
10 early signs & symptoms of Alzheimer’s
1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life 2. Challenge in planning or solving problems 3. Diffi culty completing familiar tasks 4. Confusion with time or place 5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships 6. New problems with words in speaking or writing 7. Misplacing things & losing the ability to retrace steps 8. Decreased or poor judgment 9. Withdrawal from work or social activities 10. Changes in mood & personality - alz.org
