Program to discuss Alzheimer#039;s planned

Published 12:00 am Saturday, May 10, 2003

Because May is Older Americans Month, there will be a special program Tuesday, May, 20, entitled "Understand-ing Alzheimer's."

"Four-million Americans have Alzheimer's disease," said Mary Kittelson, Mower County senior advocate. "One of every 10 people over the age of 65 and one-half of the people over the age of 85 suffer from the disease. Memory loss can last anywhere from eight to 20 years. It can have an emotional, financial and business impact on our lives."

Mower County Senior Advocacy is joining forces with the Alzheimer's Association's Minnesota-Dakota chapter. Jamie Pennington of the association's Rochester office will be the presenter Tuesday, May 20, in a program scheduled 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Mower County Senior Center in Austin.

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The program is free and open to the public. Seniors who want to better understand memory loss and caregivers who see those suffering memory loss are urged to attend.

Kittelson believes it is important to distinguish between Alzheimer's disease and related disorders.

Dementia is the loss of intellectual functions of sufficient severity to interfere with a person's daily functioning, according to the Alzheimer's Association's fact sheet. It is not a disease in itself, but rather a group of symptoms, which may accompany certain diseases or physical conditions.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common of the dementing disorders. It is a progressive, degenerative disease that attacks the brain and results in impaired memory, thinking and behavior.

There is also multi-infarct dementia and Parkinson's, Huntington's, Crentzfeldt-Jakob and Picks diseases, normal pressure hydrocephalus and depression.

Distinguishing between the many diseases and disorders, basic treatments and the need for early detection will be examined at the meeting.

Kittelson also said she hosts a caregivers support group the third Thursday of each month for people caring for victims of the diseases/disorders. The group meets 10:30 a.m. at the Mower County Senior Center. The next meeting is May 15.

The purpose of both the regular support group sessions and the May 20 program is the same: education and awareness.

"We want more people to know the causes, the warning signs and the treatments, but most of all we want people to know this is a progressive disease that needs to be treated early," Kittelson said.

The "Understanding Alzheimer's" program organizers say preregistration is unnecessary, but preferred.

For more information about the regular caregiver support group meetings or the May 20 program, call Kittelson at 433-3462.

Lee Bonorden can be reached at 434-2232 or by e-mail at :mailto:lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com