海角换妻's chapter of the is urging state lawmakers to support two policies the organization is proposing. Members took their concerns to the state Capitol in Hartford Wednesday to speak with state lawmakers as part of Alzheimer鈥檚 Advocacy Day.
Both policies would help those who are affected by Alzheimer鈥檚 disease better plan for their future, according to Kristen Cusato, director of communications for the Alzheimer鈥檚 Association鈥檚 海角换妻 chapter.
鈥淭he earlier you're diagnosed with this disease, the more opportunities you have to take the new medications that are FDA-approved for those in the early stages. ... Plan for your future, plan for what it looks like when this disease progresses and also incorporate some lifestyle interventions,鈥� Cusato said.
One policy the organization hopes to advance in the state legislature is to extend insurance coverage for to private insurance groups. The testing measures proteins in the blood or cerebrospinal fluid to help diagnose the disease. They can assist doctors in determining whether a patient has Alzheimer鈥檚 or another type of dementia.
One of the testing options is by getting a PET scan, a scan of the patient鈥檚 brain to find any of the proteins. Another is a lumbar puncture, a needle that collects fluid to determine if there are proteins, combined with cognitive testing.
Christy Kovel, director of public policy for the Alzheimer鈥檚 Association's 海角换妻 Chapter, specified that doctors are searching for proteins like amyloid or tau. According to the, tau impacts the memory regions of the brain, while amyloid clumps 鈥渋nto plaques between neurons.鈥�
鈥淏iomarkers are measurable changes that can show if a disease is present, and or if a person is at risk, examples are amyloid or tau,鈥� Kovel said. 鈥淵ou can test for biomarkers by doing imaging scans and collecting samples of bodily fluids like blood and cerebrospinal fluid.鈥�
For some, getting a diagnosis is a difficult reality to acknowledge because of the stigma that surrounds the disease. Yet, receiving an early or recent diagnosis could help qualify patients for two of the FDA-approved medications that delay the progression of the disease, Cusato said.
Democratic State Sen. Jan Hochadel supports the bill. Hochadel testified at the capitol Wednesday on the Alzheimer鈥檚 Day of Advocacy and shared that her uncle, who suffers from Alzheimer鈥檚 disease, began to get confused, then eventually started hallucinating.
His wife brought him to a VA Medical Center where he was diagnosed with Lewy body Alzheimer鈥檚 after being exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.
鈥淢y aunt just always just seems so exhausted because he's still living at home, and she's the only sole caregiver, and she's watching this man. That she's been with for over half a century,鈥� Hochadel said. 鈥淗e's becoming a stranger to her, and he's it's the same way, he's a stranger to her, and she's a stranger to him. This is what happens with Alzheimer's.鈥�
Within the past year and a half, she has 鈥渨atched him deteriorate,鈥� Hochadel said. Over two-thirds of those with Alzheimer鈥檚 are women, and African Americans are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer鈥檚 when compared to people of other races and ethnic groups, Cusato said.
According to the, 鈥渋t is only through receiving a diagnosis鈥� that patients can get access to resources and treatments that can improve their cognition and still have a great quality of life. Additionally, while they still have the capacity to make decisions, they can plan ahead on legal, financial or other future life choices.
鈥淭here are a lot of things we still need to overcome with this disease and one of them is stigma. I think a lot of people are fearful of coming forward. They say, 'Well, there's not a cure. Why should I even get diagnosed?' But there are a lot of things you can do,鈥� Cusato said.
The Alzheimer鈥檚 Association's 海角换妻 Chapter will also urge state lawmakers to consider a proposal that would establish an Alzheimer鈥檚 and Dementia Advisory Council.
Cusato said it would 鈥減ush the Alzheimer's state plan forward, to make sure that there are people in place to continue to put Alzheimer's as a top priority for this state.鈥� She said sometimes patients are diagnosed by a doctor, but aren鈥檛 given any resources or told what to do next.
Establishing a council would provide more education for residents about the disease and continue to provide resources for those who are affected, Cusato said.
In 海角换妻, there are more thanwith Alzheimer鈥檚 and unpaid caregivers.
The association hopes the stories shared Wednesday at 海角换妻鈥檚 State Alzheimer鈥檚 Advocacy Day will leave a lasting impact on state legislators.
Advocates such as Cusato remain optimistic that if these policies are passed, it will provide some relief to those diagnosed with Alzheimer鈥檚 or dementia and their caregivers.
鈥淭here are two FDA-approved medications for those in the early stages that are making headway for people who have this disease and giving them more time to live independently,鈥� Cusato said.
鈥淭hat's critical. When my mom was sick, I wish that was there, but it wasn't. They were just approved, and within the last couple of years, we are making great strides in research and making great strides to help families.鈥�
The Alzheimer鈥檚 Association has a 24/7 helpline, 1-800-272-3900 for those who need support.
This post has been updated.
