Alzheimer's disease, the sixth leading cause of death in South Carolina, is gaining awareness because of the efforts of community groups and strides in research.

    Organizations, such as the Alzheimer's Association, have been established to provide services to those who suffer from the disease and their family members.

    Every 71 seconds an American develops Alzheimer's disease, according to the Alzheimer's Association.  The Association's annual report states that as many as 5 million Americans are living with this disease, and as many as 16 million may have it by 2050.  

    Alzheimer's destroys brain cells and is the most common form of dementia.  Dementia is a term used to describe the loss of memory and other abilities that affect daily life, according to the Alzheimer's Association.  The disease causes problems with memory, thinking and behaviors.  These problems can affect a person's work, social life and hobbies.

    In South Carolina alone, according to Vivian Robinson, program associate for the South Carolina chapter of Alzheimer's Association, about 70,000 people suffer from this disease.

    Vice President of Programs for the South Carolina chapter of Alzheimer's Association Gail Marion said, "At this point in time, we have 29,000 people in our database. That would be an indication of people over the last couple years who have asked for information and have asked to get information from us."

    To help individuals living with the disease and their families, the Alzheimer's Association has established chapters across the country.  The organization provides information and referral services, care consultation (assessing the patient's needs) support groups, safety services (how to protect those suffering from the disease) and education.

    "We have eight regional offices that serve the state," Marion said. "We have around 90 Alzheimer's family support groups in the state in a majority of our counties. We are always working to build awareness."

    Cindy Alewine, president and CEO of the Alzheimer's Association South Carolina chapter, said, "We encourage people to call us early when they or their loved one is first diagnosed.  We also encourage people to live healthy lifestyles and to be physically, mentally and socially active."

    Such a lifestyle is not commonly portrayed, she said.  "In some cases, the media portrays only the sad and difficult side of the disease," Alewine said.

    This negative stigma has created an obstacle the South Carolina chapter in particular is dealing with.  "We want people to know that individuals with Alzheimer's can still live full and productive lives for years in some cases," she said.

    Recently, more public faces, such as Charlton Heston and the husband of former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, have come forward that they are suffering from the disease.  These acknowledgements have contributed to a more positive light on the disease.  "We are having more success now that famous people such as Ronald Reagan have come forward about their disease," Alewine said. "People are more interested and aware and willing to talk."

    There is no cure for the disease, but the media is helping to create awareness, Marion said.

    "Well I have to give credit to the media, especially in the last 5-10 years, because a great deal of awareness has been raised by many of the stories that have come out," Marion said.  "We see almost on a weekly basis a small story that has come out about research."

    While the media does make the research known, Marion said perhaps not all of the information is being understood accurately by the public. "There are many, many medications, and testing and clinical trials," Marion said. "We get calls from the public saying I want to know how to get (the latest drug).  The media is trying to help get the word out that there is testing and that kind of thing, but they don't always tell the whole end of the story and the general public reading it may believe (a certain drug) is already available."

    An example of this confusion is a new drug that may halt the progression of Alzheimer's disease that has been discovered by scientists in the United Kingdom.  The drug, known as Rember, is being studied by researchers at Aberdeen University. Preliminary results of the trials were presented the last week in July at the International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease in Chicago.

    According to a professor who presented the findings on Rember, the drug could be on the market in 2012.  The researchers said the drug targets specific proteins that build-up in the brain, leading to Alzheimer's disease.

    Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer's.  While medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration may help to temporarily delay memory decline or treat the symptoms of the disease, no drug has been proven to stop or prevent it, according to the Alzheimer's Association.


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