National Program on Memory, Aging and Alzheimer's Disease Launched

Alzheimer's Association
Friday, 1 January 1999

Alzheimer's Association and The National Council on the Aging Announce Joint Initiative

A new consumer initiative about memory, aging, and Alzheimer's disease is being launched by the Alzheimer's Association and The National Council on the Aging (NCOA). "Keepsake: A Program on Memory, Aging and Alzheimer's Disease," is designed to heighten public awareness and understanding about the differences between memory loss associated with normal aging and the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, degenerative disease that initially manifests itself with subtle symptoms of memory loss and forgetfulness. These early symptoms are often dismissed as normal signs of aging. As the disease takes its toll, it eventually causes people to lose their ability to think and function independently.

"We are hopeful that this public education effort will result in earlier detection of Alzheimer's disease," said Thomas Kirk, vice president of patient, family and education services for the Alzheimer's Association. "Proper diagnosis and early intervention cannot only help the person with Alzheimer's disease, but it also can give the family time to take proper steps in seeking care and support for the person with Alzheimer's disease."

Because family members are often the first to encounter the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, one goal of the Keepsake program is to help people of all ages better identify normal, memory-related aging complaints versus the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. Through a series of free community workshops and other efforts, this program will educate the public about Alzheimer's disease and the community resources available to cope with the disease and its consequences.

"While Alzheimer's disease has become a familiar term, most people are still unable to distinguish between the symptoms of the disease and normal signs of aging," said James Firman, President and CEO of The National Council on the Aging. "This makes early detection difficult and often prevents people and their families from getting the treatment and assistance they need."

A recent survey of more than 3,000 caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease was conducted by Consumer Health Sciences. The survey found that almost three years elapse from the time signs of Alzheimer's disease begin to the time when a person is diagnosed by a physician.

Also according to this survey, caregivers reported a variety of actions upon noticing symptoms:

- 53 percent spoke with family and friends
- 46 percent went to a physician only when the problems got worse
- 33 percent went to a physician right away
- 32 percent said they initially ignored the signs of Alzheimer's disease

Additionally, 70 percent of caregivers reported that a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease was not initially made. Almost half of these caregivers said that when they brought a family member they suspected of having Alzheimer's disease to a physician, the physician initially attributed the patient's symptoms to normal aging.

The Keepsake program is sponsored by Eisai Inc. and Pfizer Inc with the collaboration of the Alzheimer's Association and The National Council on the Aging. For more information about the Keepsake program, call 1-888-401-2292.

For more information, or to contact Alzheimer's Association, see their website at: www.alz.org