b'INSPIREDTOTALLYAlzheimers Disease: The Silent EpidemicBy Debra A. YoungThesilentepidemicofAlzheimersisdescribedaconditionwhichcontributesdirectlytovascular by the Alzheimers Association as the emergingdisease,is60%higherinAfricanAmericansthan healthcrisisamongAfricanAmericans.whites.Alzheimers disease (AD), a form of dementia, isIncreasing age has been identified as the leading risk defined by the National Institute on Aging as afactorforAD.However,whileADisprevalentin brain disorder that slowly destroys memory andpersons 65 and over, the Centers for Disease Control thinking skills and, eventually, the ability to carryand Prevention report that Alzheimers disease is not outapersonsdailylifeandactivities.Recenta normal part of aging. According to the CDC, studies by the Alzheimers Association found thatsymptoms can first appear after age 60.Symptoms of AD is more prevalent among African AmericansAD may include:than whites, with estimates ranging from 14% - 100% higher.Other studies cite a growing bodyMemorylossthatdisruptsdailylife,suchas of evidence that vascular disease may be the keygettinglostinafamiliarplaceorrepeating mechanism in triggering AD. Vascular dementiaquestions.isdefinedasadeclineinthinkingskillscausedTrouble handling money and paying bills.byconditionsthatblockorreducebloodflowDifficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at tovariousregionsofthebrain,deprivingthemwork or at leisure.ofoxygenandnutrients.ResearchersfurtherDecreased or poor judgment.state that persons with high blood pressure andMisplacingthingsandbeingunabletoretrace cholesterol levels, both of which are prevalent insteps to find them.African Americans, are twice as likely to get AD.Changes in mood, personality, or behavior.Thedataalsoshowsthatthosewithbothrisk factors are four times more likely to develop AD.Whilethereisnocure,studiesindicatethatearly In addition, the risk of getting Type 2 diabetes,diagnosisandtreatmentarekeystomanaging 8IMARA'