Glen Campbell Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s

By Dr. Ana

This week Tam and I went see “I’ll Be Me”,  the Glen Campbell movie that chronicled his progression of Alzheimer’s from the time he was diagnosed in 2011 until the time he was situated in a Mental Care Facility three short years later in 2014.

It was an amazing testimony to the power of the music for which he was so famous, the friendships he forged throughout his career that sustained him after his diagnosis, and the power that this disease had to take it all from him swiftly and surely.

After the movie a panel of experts talked about alzheimer’s from their unique perspectives of Alzheimer’s Facility Care Style, Physician and Researcher working for a cure, and Executive from the Alzheimer’s Association.  Questions from the audience were asked and answered.

I learned that Alzheimer’s is a hereditary disease so yes, you can live a healthy life in all the ways we already know: diet, reduced stress, happy living, etc. but, factually speaking, if you have it in your family, you are susceptible.

Another fact is that every year many more American women die from Alzheimer’s than from breast cancer, yet the research into a cure for Alzheimer’s falls short of what is funneled into breast cancer.

Not only is funding woefully inadequate, but just at importantly, there are not enough people entering studies and trials to track the progression of the disease and to report results from prescription medications.

The panelists agreed on this point:  If you are experiencing memory loss that concerns you, don’t ignore it; if you know someone who is experiencing memory loss, encourage them to recognize it and then take action!

Contact the Alzheimer’s Association so they can hook you up with information and they can encourage you to become part of the solution by entering a study.

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