This is a well written article on the this topic and worth reading. Follow the link in the clip for more on early onset Alzheimer's and this trend.
"We're seeing more and more people in their 40s and especially in their 50s and early 60s with more serious memory problems than we've seen before. And many of them turn out to be Alzheimer's," said Dr. Constantine G. Lyketsos, chair of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.
He doesn't know why he is seeing more younger patients - it could be because baby boomers are pushing through this age group or there is a greater awareness of the disease. There aren't hard numbers, in part because Alzheimer's is notoriously difficult to identify, particularly in the middle-aged.
"I've heard it said that Alzheimer's kills the brain of the patient and the heart of the family," said Carol Wynne, a nurse practitioner who runs an Alzheimer's Association support group for families dealing with early-onset disease. "It's very hard to watch - and as a society, we aren't set up to deal with them."
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This is a great blog dealing with some sensitive issues. I think this entry can assist others not knowing how to deal with such sensitive issues. I spent nearly four years working in an Alzheimer’s/Long Term Care facility in Utah and I know the difficulties and pains associated with caring for a loved one. I personally got to know some great people I helped care for and I also became close with some of their families. I also assisted with care planners. I’ve seen a lot of resources that help like this one. I know of one in particular that seems to be quite helpful: http://www.thecaringspace.com Please pass this link along to anyone you feel could benefit from it.
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