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World Alzheimer's Day: 3 Interesting Facts About The Dreaded Disease

Team AckoJan 17, 2024

World Alzheimer’s Day is observed on the 21st of September each year for encouraging people to talk about dementia. This day helps create awareness and speak about the challenges and stigma related to this life-impairing illness. The year 2019 marks the 8th World Alzheimer’s Month for the campaign that started since 2012.

It is of utmost importance that people become aware about Alzheimer’s diseases as its cases are commonly found in every part of the world. It is a proven fact that this disease is so common that a person is diagnosed with dementia every 3 seconds around the globe. Thus, people need to recognize this illness and take measures to avoid it.

Contents

Interesting Facts about Alzheimer’s Disease:
Importance of Buying Health Insurance for Senior Citizens:

Interesting Facts about Alzheimer’s Disease:

1. There are 3 Main Stages of Alzheimer’s:

Dementia related to Alzheimer’s disease is progressive in nature. It can be divided into 3 main stages – mild (early stage), moderate (middle-stage), and severe (late-stage). Here are the symptoms of each stage:

Mild (early stage):

Alzheimer’s disease is detected at this stage in most cases. The symptoms involve:

Trouble remembering names when meeting people for the first time
Trouble keeping in sync with the context of the text while reading
Misplacing things, like daily objects
Trouble with organizing or planning

Moderate (middle stage):

Along with symptoms of the early stage, a person may observe the following with moderate Alzheimer’s:

Mood swings
Trouble in remembering personal history
Not being able to navigate on familiar roads
Confusing while carrying out simple tasks
Troubled sleep

Severe (late-stage):

Decreased immunity
Severe issues with carrying out simple daily tasks
Loss of awareness of the current situation
Trouble with communication

2. Alzheimer’s Disease is Named After a German Psychiatrist:

Alzheimer’s disease is named after a German psychiatrist and neuropathologist called Dr. Alois Alzheimer. This disease got its name in the year 1910. He discussed a case study on 3 November 1906 that described a 51-year-old woman named Auguste Deter who had suffered from a brain disorder. The findings were publicly discussed at the Tübingen meeting of the Southwest German Psychiatrists. The brain autopsy identified the amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles that form key characteristics of the brain of a person suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

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3. People with Heart Diseases might be at a Higher Risk of Alzheimer’s:

Various studies suggest that there could be a link between Cardiovascular and Alzheimer’s diseases. People with heart diseases are more prone to contracting dementia that leads to Alzheimer’s diseases. The fact that a person suffering from heart disease is at an increased risk for hypertension, high cholesterol levels, diabetes, or dementia contributes to the increased risk for Alzheimer’s.

Importance of Buying Health Insurance for Senior Citizens:

After a certain age, a person is most likely to contract some or the other kind of health issue or disease. This is a natural process of aging and results from the fact that senior citizens have lower immunity.

As Alzheimer’s is mostly diagnosed in old age, one should make sure that a sufficient health insurance coverage is bought in the form of either family health insurance or dedicated health insurance for senior citizens. The costs related to this disease are high and could involve aid from multiple entities like a dedicated care provider in the later stages, or medicines that help control dementia, regular checkups and more. Thus, don’t forget to strengthen your health insurance plans for family while looking for a cover that includes all members.

Remember that your health insurance coverage will help you in the time of need. To ensure that you receive adequate financial help, read your health insurance policy thoroughly before making a purchase.

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