NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER HEALTH MARCH 10-16, 2010 B3
A mind is a terrible thing to waste
by Ashley N. Johnson
Courier Staff Writer
Mind diminishing disease
It is the most common
mind diminishing disease
and approximately the
seventh leading cause of
a leading cause of death
death among individuals
over the age of 60. But it
and activities that one can important because they
is the least likely to be
do to prolong memory. The can deal with circulation
talked about or taken seri-
most common medications of blood and oxygen to the
ously, until it strikes one’s
are Aricept, Exelon, Raza- brain.
family—it’s Alzheimer’s
dyne and the newest, Me- Physicians also agree
disease.
mantine. The first three that the use of brain stim-
Dr. Jeffrey Harris, of
are cholinesterase in- ulating things help
Harris Neurological Asso-
hibitors that slow the pro- strengthen the brain.
ciates and an Alzheimer’s
gression of the disease Reading and puzzles such
disease specialist in Al-
and the latter protects the as word searches, cross-
abama, says that Alz-
brain. words, Sudoku and jig-
heimer’s is a progressive
NAMENDA
“So essentially, an indi- saws are good ways to
memory disorder that
vidual would take two challenge the brain and
starts with the loss of ease—waiting. She also
medications (one of the keep it active.
short-term memory and adds that the disease is
three and Memantine),” All of the physicians spo-
progresses into long-term steadily increasing as the
Dr. Oscar Lopez, a profes- ken to agree that individ-
loss. One loses the ability leading cause of death for
sor of neurology at the uals do not die from Alz-
to do any activity associ- older people, especially as heimer’s, they die
ated with daily living, for people are living longer. from complications
ARICEPT
instance feeding them- Harris says that the av- from the disease.
selves, grooming them- erage age for developing “People in the end cate those symptoms with make up 11 percent of
selves or going places the disease is 60. At that stages of the dis- their caregiver, by the that number and Hispan-
without assistance. time an individual has a ease are very prone time the issue is recog- ics make up 4 percent.
According to the 20 percent chance of de- to infections,” said nized it can be too late. “There is very little
Alzheimer’s Association veloping the disease, and Lopez. “Often it is Although it is unknown known about the effects of
website, there are approx- they increase 10 percent because a person what causes the disease, Alzheimer’s in minorities.
imately 5.3 million re- every 10 years after. So with Alzheimer’s research is constant. Har- We need more participa-
ported cases in the United when someone is 70 years cannot communi- ris says that research is tion from minorities,
States and every 70 sec- old, their chances increase cate to their care- being done to develop new whether it is participating
onds someone develops by 30 percent and at 40 giver symptoms medications to treat or in a drug trial or an obser-
the disease. percent by the age of 80. they are experienc- prevent Alzheimer’s and vation study,” Lopez said.
“Early detection can be Some of the signs to look ing.” For instance, even a vaccine is in the No matter what the
the key,” says Dr. Judith for are memory loss of re-
ADMENTA
a person with works. issue, each physician
Black, medical director of cently learned information Alzheimer’s could But that is not enough. stresses do not wait. At
Senior Markets for High- or dates, confusion with
University of Pittsburgh. be having a stroke or
Lopez says that out of the the first sign of anything
mark. “If a loved one is time or place, difficulty
He adds that keeping up heart attack or even an
31,000 individuals that go to a doctor. The sooner
showing signs of memory completing daily tasks,
with health, such as blood infection, and because
volunteer for research, the visit, the more likely
loss, do not assume it is misplacing things and not
pressure and diabetes are they could not communi-
African-Americans only the chances of survival.
just normal aging. Make being able to retrace one’s
an appointment with your steps, changes in mood or
loved one’s physician and personality and the grow-
go with them. Discuss ing frustration and with-
with the physician what drawal from activities
you are observing.” Black that they once loved to do.
and others say that this is Although there is no
the most common mistake cure for the disease, there
when dealing with the dis- are several medications
Foxx, Ludacris join
CDC in AIDS fight
Award-winning actors and ing artist Jeremih and will be
recording artists Jamie Foxx webcast to college students
and Chris “Ludacris” across the country.
Bridges are joining other Younger African-Ameri-
celebrities and African- cans are among the popula-
American leaders to pro- tions hardest-hit by HIV.
mote “i know,” a social media While African-Americans
effort launched by the Cen- represent just 14 percent of
ters for Disease Control and people ages 13 to 29 years
Prevention. The “i know” ef- in the United States, they
fort will provide new chan- account for half of all new
nels for African-American HIV infections in that age
young adults to talk openly group. Young Black gay and
and often about HIV, both bisexual men are especially
online and off. affected, representing more
As a new element of CDC’s than half (55 percent) of
Act Against AIDS campaign, new infections among Afri-
“i know” will get the facts can-Americans 13-29.
about HIV/AIDS out far and Despite this heavy toll,
wide to this hard-hit popula- concern about HIV is de-
tion through social media clining among younger Afri-
platforms such as Facebook, can-Americans. A recent
Twitter, a new website, and survey from the Kaiser
text messages aimed at Family Foundation found
sparking conversation. Cel- that between 1997 and
ebrities including Foxx and 2009, the number of Afri-
Ludacris, along with partici- can-Americans aged 18-29
pating African-American or- who reported being very
ganizations, will also use concerned about becoming
their own Facebook pages infected with HIV declined
and Twitter feeds to increase from 54 percent to 40 per-
participation and expand the cent. “i know” is designed to
conversation’s reach. combat this complacency by
“The ‘i know’ effort is part of encouraging dialogue about
CDC’s commitment to ad- HIV among African-Ameri-
dressing the silence around cans ages 18 to 24 years—
HIV and inviting African- focusing on HIV testing,
American young adults to take condom use and other ways
charge of the conversation,” to reduce risk of HIV infec-
said Kevin Fenton, M.D., di- tion, including abstaining
rector of the CDC’s National from sex, facts about HIV
Center for HIV/ AIDS, Viral transmission, and ways to
Hepatitis, STD and TB Pre- reduce the stigma associ-
vention. “At CDC, we have the ated with the disease.
science, but it is their voices “The voices of young people
that will make the difference. are key to ending HIV within
By supporting frank conversa- the African-American com-
tions through social media, ‘i munity,” said Dr. Jonathan
know’ creates an opportunity Mermin, director of the
for young people to talk di- CDC’s Division of HIV/AIDS
rectly with each other about Prevention. “We know that
the issues that fuel this still- the simple act of talking
deadly disease. Their ideas about HIV can help change
and involvement will be a crit- the course of the epidemic,
ical part of the solution.” by reducing stigma associ-
Foxx will also lend his star ated with the disease, in-
power to a series of radio and creasing knowledge about
online video public service HIV prevention, and moti-
announcements. For exam- vating life-saving behaviors.”
ple, in one of the “i know” The effort is part of CDC’s
PSAs, Foxx highlights the Act Against AIDS campaign,
importance of talking about a five-year, $45 million na-
HIV: “We need to do some- tional communication cam-
thing—all of us—and espe- paign which aims to combat
cially young people. We can complacency about the
start by talking about HIV HIV/AIDS crisis in the
with our partners, our fam- United States. Launched
ily, our friends.” last year, the Act Against
CDC officials unveiled the AIDS campaign also uses
effort at a Clark Atlanta Uni- targeted prevention mes-
versity event intended to en- sages and information to bet-
gage on-campus and online ter reach specific communi-
college student audiences. ties at risk for HIV, including
The event and concert will African-Americans.
feature nationally known so- (For more information on Act
cial and political commenta- Against AIDS and “i know,” visit
tor Jeff Johnson and record- www.actagainstaids.org.)
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