Walk for Alzheimer's
Posted
on Nov 19, 2013
70,000 people in BC have Alzheimer's. On January 26 The Walk for Memoriers for Richmond/South Delta will be held.
Our speaker on November 19 was Marco Goco speaking about the Walk for Alzheimer’s. He gave background and data on dementia and the impact in our community.
In B.C. 70,000 people have Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias, and 15,000 people are developing symptoms each year. These numbers will double in a generation. Anyone can develop Alzheimer’s disease, and degeneration of the brain can start as early as 40. At least 10,000 of the people living with Alzheimer’s disease in B.C. are the under the age of 65. For every 1 person diagnosed, at least three or four family caregivers are impacted.
WHAT IS DEMENTIA? The word dementia is an “umbrella term” that refers to many different diseases.
Types of Dementia
Different types of dementia are caused by different physical changes to the brain. These diseases include:
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
• Frontotemporal dementia, including Pick’s disease
• Lewy body dementia
• Mild cognitive impairment
• Vascular dementia
• Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
• Frontotemporal dementia, including Pick’s disease
• Lewy body dementia
• Mild cognitive impairment
• Vascular dementia
It’s important to note that sometimes, symptoms of dementia can be caused by conditions that may be treatable, such as depression, thyroid disease, infections or drug interactions. That’s why it’s important that any concerns you might have be discussed with your doctor.
However, if the symptoms are not treatable and progress over time, they may be due to damage to the nerve cells in the brain. If that is the case, getting an early diagnosis is critical for you and your family.
The Investors Group Walk for Memories is a great way to support families in your community who are impacted by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias and to support research to find a cure. Gather friends, family and co-workers to honour the memory or celebrate the life of a person living with dementia.re you and your care partners can get the support needed to maintain quality of life.
Walk for Memories January 26 2014. The Richmond/South Delta walk is in Richmond at the BCIT campus near the airport. Detail at: www.walkformemories.com.