Families of patients at risk for Alzheimer’s disease will be pleased to know that the federal government has announced a large federal grant to study medications for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. The $33.2 million grant will mainly focus on testing for Alzheimer’s in people who are at risk for the most common form of the disease.
With this, the federal government seems to be finally diverting its Alzheimer’s disease strategy towards prevention, and not just the treatment of this condition, that leads to severe cognitive and mental ability as it progresses. Scientific research has indicated that people, who have a potential risk for Alzheimer disease, can be identified much before the disease makes its appearance by looking for symptoms of dementia. According to the World Alzheimer Report, a staggering 50% of all seniors, who require long-term care, suffer from some symptoms of dementia.
According to federal statistics, there are as many as five million Americans who currently suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, and those numbers are expected to only increase with the aging of the baby boomer population in this country. Alzheimer’s disease clearly isn’t going anywhere, and its impact on patients, families, and caregivers is only likely to get more devastating as the years go by.
The Social Security Administration recently confirmed the importance with which it views the severe financial struggles facing persons who suffer from this condition by including early onset/younger onset Alzheimer’s disease to a list of conditions included in its Compassion Allowance program. Under the Compassionate Allowance Initiative, disability benefits applicants can get their application processing accelerated. More than 200 conditions are included in the program.
M. Stanley Whitehead is a Houston Social Security disability benefits lawyer, committed to representing persons who have had their disability claims rejected, and helping them recover the benefits that are rightfully theirs. If you have had your Social Security claim denied, contact me for a free consultation.
