Facing Alzheimer's Disease During the Holidays

I am writing in the hopes that by sharing my story, others will do the same. Since my father died from Alzheimer’s disease four years ago, Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations have been difficult. While I’m lucky to be surrounded by supportive friends, there is always an absence- as well as a sadness knowing how much he suffered in the last eight years of his life. As his primary caregiver during that time, I know I did everything I could to help him, but I still miss him every day.

My family is not alone – this year in Illinois, at least 220,000 people celebrated Thanksgiving while living with Alzheimer’s disease and hundreds of thousands more families like mine had an empty chair – and this problem is growing. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, the 5.4 million people who currently have Alzheimer’s could grow to more than 16 million in 2050. The cost of caring for all of these people, already the highest when compared to any other disease, will grow by at least as much.

Many people are surprised when I mention how important Congress is in the fight against this terrible disease, but public funding is going to be critical to finding a treatment or cure. Neurological research is incredibly complex and we are still playing catchup with Alzheimer’s research: between 2000 and 2013, mortality rates from nearly every major cause of death in the United States declined significantly, but skyrocketed for Alzheimer’s.

This says that research works and politicians like my Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, who considers disease research to be an issue of national economic security, are right to do so. She is joined in her support by Senator Dick Durbin, another strong supporter of strong federal support for disease research. The more voices calling for Alzheimer’s research funding, the more people will understand how big of a problem this disease poses for our country.

Individuals can learn more at www.alz.org/illinois

Carrie Jackson

Evanston