Government & Politics
Letter: Alzheimer’s Is Not Just an ‘Old People’s’ Disease
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To the editor:
In April of 2018, my 62-year-old sister was diagnosed with younger-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Sadly, my family is very familiar with Alzheimer’s. Between 2000, when my father was diagnosed with the disease, and 2017, when my mother passed with the disease, my family was deeply involved with their care, with learning about the disease, with learning how best to take care of our parents and how to take care of ourselves as their family and caregivers. We know too well that Alzheimer’s is not just an “old people’s” disease. An estimated 200,000 Americans under the age of 65 are currently living with younger-onset Alzheimer’s disease. People living with younger-onset face unique challenges when it comes to family, work, and finances.