I am assuming you're making a larger point about life and death, and on that level I agree with you. But as someone who also works with seniors full-time, I have to point out that Alzheimer's is:
- not the same as dementia, and never will be [1]. Dementia is an umbrella term that includes many diseases (e.g.: Parkinson's, etc), whereas Alzheimer's is just one of the many specific diseases with its own causes, symptoms, and chances of developing a cure.
- not painless. Apart from increased physical pain sensitivity [2], there's endless emotional pain that impacts the patient and their loved ones [3].
The point you're making about the inevitability of death is valid, but it shouldn't lead to the conclusion that we should just accept Alzheimer's as an incurable disease - of all the ways that a loved one can pass away, many families I work with would agree that this may be one of the worst.
Having worked with thousands of end-of-life clients, I am surprised that the research funding for Alzheimer's is far lower than that for cancer, heart disease, and HIV/Aids. My assumption is that people's view of Alzheimer's is rooted in the old and incorrect perception that it's an inevitable and natural part of aging, sometimes referred to as "senility."
Today we know a lot more about Alzheimer's, and I would challenge anyone to point out why Alzheimer's is fundamentally incurable - it's just a matter of when, and I certainly hope we'll find a cure sooner than later.
- not the same as dementia, and never will be [1]. Dementia is an umbrella term that includes many diseases (e.g.: Parkinson's, etc), whereas Alzheimer's is just one of the many specific diseases with its own causes, symptoms, and chances of developing a cure.
- not painless. Apart from increased physical pain sensitivity [2], there's endless emotional pain that impacts the patient and their loved ones [3].
The point you're making about the inevitability of death is valid, but it shouldn't lead to the conclusion that we should just accept Alzheimer's as an incurable disease - of all the ways that a loved one can pass away, many families I work with would agree that this may be one of the worst.
Having worked with thousands of end-of-life clients, I am surprised that the research funding for Alzheimer's is far lower than that for cancer, heart disease, and HIV/Aids. My assumption is that people's view of Alzheimer's is rooted in the old and incorrect perception that it's an inevitable and natural part of aging, sometimes referred to as "senility."
Today we know a lot more about Alzheimer's, and I would challenge anyone to point out why Alzheimer's is fundamentally incurable - it's just a matter of when, and I certainly hope we'll find a cure sooner than later.
[1] https://www.kindlycare.com/dementia-vs-alzheimers/ [2] http://www.psychiatryadvisor.com/neurocognitive-disorders/al... [3] https://www.kindlycare.com/still-alice-portrait-of-a-disease... [4] http://www.aarp.org/health/brain-health/info-2015/alzheimers...