Alzheimer's and Dementia

The Alzheimer’s Project returns to HBO

By Rick Law, Founder and Managing Partner of the Estate, Asset and Retirement Tax Law Firm of Law Elder Law.  Law Elder Law is a multi-generational law firm serving families in Chicagoland and the suburbs in Illinois. In case you missed it the first time, “The Alzheimer’s Project” is available to watch on the Alzheimer’s Project website or through HBO’s online streaming portals. “The Alzheimer’s Project” is an exciting joint project of the Alzheimer’s Association and HBO which is designed to give us all new insight and hope that we can push back against Alzheimer’s Disease. For those of us in Chicago the documentary was even more personal, in that it included a live interview with Dr. David Bennett of Chicago’s own Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center.  The medical staff and researchers at Rush Hospital are one of the premier teams investigating Alzheimer’s Disease. Most people are aware that Alzheimer’s Disease is a brain disease wherein brain function is progressively destroyed by the emergence of plaques and tangles.  “The Alzheimer’s Project” focused on some individuals with early-onset Alzheimer’s, and we learned several new and surprising things. Interestingly, there are individuals whose autopsy reveals the presence of the Alzheimer’s related plaques and tangles, but the individual did not exhibit memory loss during their lives—some people continue to function in a normal manner.  This phenomenon is not yet understood but is currently being referred to as “cognitive reserve.”  The presence of this cognitive reserve gives researchers a hopeful avenue of new investigation. In addition, part of the question-and-answer portion of the program focused on current drug therapies.  Today there is not a drug which cures or delays the disease.  Our current drug therapies are limited to enhancing the remaining brain function during the continuing degenerative progression of the Alzheimer’s Disease. Dr. Bennett told the audience in Chicago that there are numerous drug trials in process, in addition to medical research studies going on right now, which demonstrate new possibilities to not only delay but possibly create a vaccine against Alzheimer’s Disease. There is hope that medical science will have these enhanced weapons available to the public within the next decade.  This is great news for the millions of people who would otherwise face the prospect of Alzheimer’s Disease. If your loved one has memory problems and you’re afraid of the consequences that may bring, give our office a call today at 800-310-3100.  Your first consultation is absolutely free.  We’ll let you know what steps you need to take, right now, to protect yourself and your family.  Call now. Sincerely, Rick L. Law, Estate, Asset and Retirement Tax Attorney 8 times named the #1 Illinois elder law estate planning attorney by Leading Lawyer Magazine, Rick has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, AARP Magazine, TheStreet.com, and numerous newspapers and articles. Rick is the lead attorney for Law Elder Law, LLP, focusing in Estate, Asset and Retirement Taxes. His goal is to give retirees an informed edge when it comes to dealing with an uncertain future.  Get flexible retirement strategies that work during good times and bad, plus information on how you can save your home and assets from being used to pay for long term care.  Call 800-310-3100 for your free consultation now!