- Note - This story is over 3 years old... wonder how many
cases there are now? Doesn't look like there is much of an effort to track
this issue. Don't ask, don't tell? -ed
-
- "We've not got to keep this under the blanket. We've
got to expose it to the full light of publicity."
-
- Figures suggest that more and more young people are being
diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
-
- And the experts say that the NHS is not set up to help
younger victims.
-
- The Alzheimer's Disease Society estimates that as many
as 17,000 people in Britain, under the age of sixty five, have Alzheimer's.
-
- It's a terrifying illness even for those in their 80s
- but the tragedy can be even more poignant for those in their 50s, 40s,
and 30s.
-
- Susan Lawson, in her late 50s, could reasonably have
expected to be nearing a long and happy retirement.
-
- However, a diagnosis of Alzheimers earlier this year
has left her and her husband Nigel in turmoil.
-
- She'd had trouble for some time with forgetfulness and
an inability to concentrate. At first they thought it was a thyroid problem.
But eventually they discovered the truth.
-
- She said: "Professor Burns told me that he thought
I had Alzheimers at which I burst into tears. And said how long will it
be before I go totally gaga.
-
- "He said there's no reason why why you should go
gaga as you call it - we've got new drugs no and there's optimism".
-
- Sue is no longer able to do many things like cooking
and reading.
-
- She cannot remember simple things, like the whether she
has put water in the kettle, or the order of words on the page.
-
- Sue attends one of the few units in the country which
offers support to younger sufferers.
-
- Michelle Murray, the nurse who runs the service says
she's seeing more and more younger patients.
-
- She sees more than one hundred younger patients in Manchester:
"We currently have a lady who's referred to us who's only 56 years
old.
-
- "She was a sister on a medical ward only three years
ago. We have a gentleman who's only thirty six. the people we've had in
their twenties are few and far between, we've had two, but that's two too
many".
-
- She says because the NHS is really only set up for Alzheimers
patients being over 70 - younger sufferers are not well catered-for.
-
- She says: "There's lots of information about dementia
in later life but not for working age life - and when you're in working
age life you need that support, and so does your family really".
-
- Doctors more aware
-
- The Alzheimer's Disease Society does not believe the
illness is getting more common among the young - only that doctors are
now more aware that it can affect younger people.
-
- A regular visitor to the Carisbrook Centre is Dr Joe
McShane. His wife Ethna was struck down by the disease more than ten years
ago. Once a bright and confident GP herself - she's now in the long stay
ward of the Withington Hospital in Manchester.
-
- As head of the local branch of the Alzheimer's Disease
Society, Dr Mcshane believes for too long people have shied away from the
reality of the illness.
-
- He says on curent estimates many more of us will be diagnosed
with a dementing illness like Alzheimer's in the future, and the NHS and
society in general should be prepared.
-
- He said: "40 or 50 years ago no one ever spoke openly
about cancer - now of course everyone's very aware and because they're
aware they realise there are great needs in this.
-
- "We got to do the same thing. We've not got to keep
this under the blanket. We've got to expose it to the full light of publicity".
-
- © MMIII
-
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1016924.stm
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