By Jack Bernard
“My husband began to have symptoms of Early Onset Dementia at age 52. It was 4 years before we could get an accurate diagnosis. My husband passed away from Alzheimer’s 9 years ago. The emotional toll that this disease took on our family was devastating.” — Mrs. Jackie Miller, Peachtree City resident.
Alzheimer’s is a serious disease which affects a person’s memory and other key functions. Many families, including my own, have had close family members who have suffered from dementia, which is defined as a group of specific symptoms. Alzheimer’s is the most common form that the disease takes.
September 21 is World Alzheimer’s Day. In honor of this event, Jackie Miller of Peachtree City and an associate spoke at a recent Peachtree City Rotary Luncheon. The Alzheimer’s Association efforts are financially supported by Rotary, both nationally and locally (see below).
Jackie is an Alzheimer’s advocate — a. speaking with a multitude of federal and state legislators, b. making them aware of the severe impact that this terrible disease has on patients and their families and c. asking for increased funding for Alzheimer’s research.
A large problem facing all of us as we grow older is recognizing dementia as opposed to normal aging. As you might suspect, diagnosing Alzheimer’s is not a simple task. A patient may see multiple medical practitioners who will take your medical history, ask about physical and mental symptoms, and perform a wide range of physical and mental tests. But diagnosis is still difficult.
The Alzheimer’s Association provides written guidelines to help us to recognize the difference in dementia rather than customary aging (https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/10_signs). For example, if an individual has Alzheimer’s, “They may stop in the middle of a conversation and have no idea how to continue or they may repeat themselves.” Versus normal aging, typified by “Sometimes having trouble finding the right word.”
The Alzheimer’s Association is dedicated to finding a cure, funding over a thousand dementia projects worldwide. The source of this funding is both local donations and government. You can help by participating in a local Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
Jackie Miller is Chair of the Southern Crescent Walk to End Alzheimer’s, the second largest in Georgia. The 2024 Walk to End Alzheimer’s, Southern Crescent, will begin at the Fred Brown Jr. Amphitheater. It is located at 201 McIntosh Trail, Peachtree City.
The walk will be held on Saturday, October 5, 2024. Please, go to this site to register and/or volunteer — https://act.alz.org/site/TR/Walk2024/GA-Georgia?pg=entry&fr_id=17551
[Jack Bernard, currently a member of the Fayette County Board of Health, has served on the Peachtree City Planning Commission and is the former Director of Health Planning for Georgia. He has been a senior executive with several national healthcare corporations. He’s also the former Chair of the Jasper County Commission and has been on two Georgia county Boards of Health.]
