Solving the Alzheimer's problem

When I was about five years old, I remember visiting my 80-year-old great-grandmother over the summer. I don't remember much about her, but I do recall how I used to borrow her old purses and shoes to dress up in when I got restless during our family visits. I also remember how weird I thought she was when she asked me, a five-year old in a pink dress, how many kids I had.\nAt the time I was confused, and I just assumed she was a strange woman. Then she asked my dad if he remembered to shut the barn door. Since we didn't live on a farm or have a barn within a 20-mile vicinity of our home, I was completely bewildered by the ramblings of my great-grandmother.\nFinally, when I was old enough to understand, I realized that my great-grandmother wasn't just a strange elderly woman; she was suffering from Alzheimer's disease, a disorder that causes anything from memory loss to a change in personality. Today, nearly four million Americans suffer from this disease and, as our population ages, the number of people with Alzheimer's is expected to increase like never before.\nBut there is some good news. Last week in Washington, D.C., the Bush administration sanctioned Alzheimer's as a disease that is covered under Medicare, the national health-insurance plan for the elderly and disabled. In a major step, the government has taken responsibility for one of the most significant problems in the elderly population.\nPrior to this change, Alzheimer's patients often were forced either to pay for their own treatments or face the disease without any help whatsoever. Now, Medicare will pay for more therapy and outpatient services, especially in the early stages of Alzheimer's development. Although a cure for the disease still remains elusive, there is hope for advancing the longevity of life for Alzheimer's patients.\nAt age 20, Alzheimer's isn't really a main concern for me, or even my parents. So why should this concern you?\nThink about your future and the future of your parents and grandparents. Although you might not even think about Alzheimer's right now, when your parents are pushing 70, maybe even 60, this disease may become a large part of their lives and consequently yours, too.\nFinally, someone has taken financial responsibility for this incurable and irreversible disease. This change might place a burden on the government, but experts believe that by investing in early intervention, the costs will be offset by providing Alzheimer's patients with the ability to live alone, without the help of a nursing home or assistant. \nDown the road, I feel comfortable knowing that if my parents are faced with this debilitating disease, I won't find myself wondering if I can afford treatment. And more than that, I'll know that my kids won't be faced with that problem either.\nLooking back, I wish my great-grandmother would have had access to these developments that are beginning to benefit many with Alzheimer's. Both science and technology have advanced so far that, who knows, maybe she would have lived to be 90 instead of 82.\nOne day, hopefully not in your near future, you might have to confront Alzheimer's disease. And if you're a great-grandparent, you might be able to live to see your great-grandchildren grow up, and more importantly, you might actually remember it.