Join the fight against Alzheimer’s

Imagine being told you have Alzheimer's disease. Once the initial stab of fear and shock dissipates, you begin working your way through the countless questions that arise. For anyone facing this chilling diagnosis, life as you know it changes forever.

I know this personally; my mother was diagnosed at age 58 with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. For her, this news confirmed her greatest fears. She had begun recognizing memory issues - difficulty in recalling words - when they first surfaced in 2005 when she was 54. But there was no Alzheimer's in her family history. Her doctor said it was most likely menopause. In 2007, she even passed tests at the Mayo Clinic that normally detect early Alzheimer's signs. It wasn't until 2009 that a Cedar Rapids neurologist diagnosed her with early-onset Alzheimer's.

Mom moved into the Promise House Assisted Living Center in Hiawatha at just after her 61st birthday. But after her second seizure in December 2013, which left her nearly speechless and wheelchair-bound, she had to be moved the Hiawatha Care Center.

My girls and I try to visit mom every night to help with feeding her dinner and brushing her teeth. My sister Jessica moved back from Chicago and visits routinely over the lunch hour and my brother Michael in Iowa City tries to visit on weekends. We know she is receiving excellent care. We have good days and bad but ultimately her decline continues.

My family's journey with my mom's diagnosis has led me, as a health care professional, to commit to raising community awareness about the prevalence of Alzheimer's and the critical need for ongoing research to fight this degenerative brain disease, the most common cause of dementia.

I have joined the board of the East Central Iowa Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association (AA). AA plays a critical role in grass roots efforts to raise funds for research and raise awareness. Nationally, AA has declared June Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month and is asking supporters to wear purple during this month. AA is also sponsoring a new event, 'The Longest Day” on June 21 (Summer Solstice) to raise awareness of caregivers who support loved ones with Alzheimer's.

Locally, we are also asking residents to participate in our fundraising event, 'Bikes Behind Brains,” in Cedar Rapids Saturday, June 20.

AA also will sponsor the 'Walk to End Alzheimer's” on Sept. 26, a national event using pledges to support research. AA helps fund studies and research globally and is the third largest funder for Alzheimer's research worldwide.

Shockingly, Alzheimer's is the only cause of death among the top 10 causes in the U.S. that cannot be prevented, cured or even slowed. Early symptoms include memory loss, problem-solving and other cognitive skills affecting daily activities, as well as apathy and depression. Later signs include disorientation, confusion, behavior changes and, ultimately, difficulty speaking, swallowing and walking. Those in the final stages are bed-bound and need 24/7 care. Alzheimer's is ultimately fatal.

Consider these facts, provided by AA:

' Alzheimer's disease is the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S. and the sixth in Iowa.

' One in nine Americans age 65 and older has Alzheimer's disease.

' One in three seniors who die in a given year has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or another dementia.

The prevalence of Alzheimer's is rising. More than 5 million Americans are now living with Alzheimer's; as many as 16 million will have the disease by 2050. In Iowa alone, the number of residents age 65 and older with Alzheimer's totals 63,000. That is predicted to rise to 73,000 by 2025. Alzheimer's reaches beyond the individual to family and loved ones who as caregivers provide so much support and care for loved ones with Alzheimer's. Locally, Mercy Medical Center's Memory Disorders Clinic evaluates and treats those with Alzheimer's, helping patients and their families cope with cognitive and behavior changes.

There is hope. Researchers believe that early detection will be key to preventing, slowing and stopping Alzheimer's disease. The last 10 years have seen a tremendous growth in research on early detection.

This disease can touch any one of us. Help make a difference - join us in wearing purple this month and help fund research by participating in our June and September events. For more information, go to www.alz.org/eci or contact 800-272-3900.

' Amanda Pins is a registered nurse and telemonitoring coordinator with Mercy Medical Center's Home Care. She is also chairing this year's Alzheimer's walk and serves on the Alzheimer's Association Board of East Central Iowa. Comments: apins@mercycare.org