By Marin McGrath
In the state of Arkansas a projected 67,000 people over the age of 65 will suffer from Alzheimer’s disease by the year 2050, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Although this disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, many people are unaware of the impacts, Kirsten Dickens, executive director of the Alzheimer’s Association Arkansas Chapter, said.
“I knew how my family had been impacted, but I had no idea that there were so many people in my community that were also experiencing that,” Dickens said. “When you look at the statistics and the numbers, kind of takes your breath away and you realize that this really is a cause that we need to be rallying around so that we can make improvements.”
Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia that affects various areas of the brain causing memory loss, confusion, irritability and loss of independence, according to the American Brain Foundation.
The month of November is dedicated to Alzheimer’s Awareness around the world in order to provide education and recognition for the fatal illness.
Having an entire month centered around this disease allows for many people to be honored such as critical care workers, family members and those suffering from Alzheimer’s, Dickens said.
“It helps us sort of elevate the impact that Alzheimer’s and other dementia has on individuals and families across the country,” Dickens said. “We really just want to also share the message that no one should be facing Alzheimer’s alone.”
Ava Mitchael, sophomore at the U of A is very familiar with the impacts Alzheimer’s has on families.
“My grandmother had Alzheimer’s for about 14 years, and I never really understood what it meant until after she passed away,” Mitchael said. “I started getting really involved in pageants and Alzheimer’s became the cause that I was the most passionate about.”
Ava Mitchael’s grandmother who had Alzheimer’s. Photo courtesy of Ava Mitchael.
As her passion grew for spreading awareness, Mitchael was able to work with the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement, an organization that fights for advocacy of the illness through legislation and to remember her grandmother’s legacy, she said.
Remembering how her once energetic and funny grandmother’s personality completely changed, Mitchael wanted to understand more about the seriousness of Alzheimer’s she said.
“It’s like the person is just inside their body, but they’re unable to express themselves anymore,” Mitchael said, “and that was really weird to watch.”
From her grandmother’s passing, Mitchael was inspired to dive into research regarding the fatality of the illness. She hopes to aid in the search for a cure with her future career in the medical field, she said.
As someone who now knows she has the gene markers for Alzeheimer’s, she knows there are things she is able to do while she is young in order to possibly prevent getting the disease, such as leading a healthy lifestyle, Mitchael said.
As for Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, Mitchael said she thinks that people need to pay more attention to the unknown of the illness.
“I think that just because it is such a horrible disease that completely affects the lifestyles of not just the patient, but the family members as well, that we could really help people out by just bringing more awareness to it,” Mitchael said.
Members of the community interested in spreading the message of Alzheimer’s Awareness are encouraged to reach out to the Alzheimer’s Association Arkansas Chapter. The group is always looking for partners and volunteers, Dickens said.
Students at the U of A are able to join the club Mitchael is a member of, Hogs End Alzheimer’s, which meets the first Monday of every month at 3:30 p.m. in Mullins Library.
“I think that just because it is such a prevalent issue in our society and there isn’t a cure for it currently, that we should start paying even more attention to it just because I know that there is something out there that can cure it,” Mitchael said. “There is something that can prevent people from getting it.”