An Alzheimer's Dream

Around 50 million people are affected globally (rising to over 150 million by 2050). My mom is one of them. As I watch her lose herself a little bit more with every weekend visit, I am sad, I am scared, I am angry ... and I dream against all odds.

I've just joined the?Swiss Re Institute, where the insights from?several hundred researchers from across Swiss?Re come together - it's a fascinating place. One of the recent publications?is called?"The Dementia Dilemma" - Dementia, by the way, is an umbrella term and doesn't equal Alzheimer's, but Alzheimer's is no doubt the most infamous form of dementia. The publication gives you numbers (such as the one mentioned in the opening paragraph) and concisely lays out insights as we know them today. We know some things, such as what makes us more vulnerable.

The risk of getting AD increases with things like diabetes, mid-life obesity and hypertension, high cholesterol, smoking, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, excessive alcohol consumption, depression, low educational attainment, social isolation, and cognitive inactivity. These are risk factors that can be modified - and then there are those that cannot be changed - such as age, family history, genetic susceptibility and gender. Now, the aforementioned list will worry a lot of people because they find themselves in it. However, even if you are living the healthiest of lives I can assure you that you, too, are at risk - if not directly, then by proxy.

Did you know that dementia's worldwide cost is USD 1 trillion ? more than the cost of cancer, heart disease and stroke combined?

I am sad because I see my mother disappear before my eyes, one memory at a time. I am scared because I am my mother's son and so I can't help wondering whether, when I look at her, I look at my future self. And I am angry because there is no cure. As the publication states: "Attempts to cure, halt, or mitigate dementia's effects have been largely unsuccessful, and sadly there is no breakthrough on the horizon. We still don't fully understand its cause." The text goes on to say: "Given all these factors and the sheer scale of the problem, researchers have turned their focus to prevention with a focus on healthy individuals at risk of developing AD and dementia." ... My heart sank when I read that.

We've come a long way with cancer, or AIDS - with Alzheimer's, not so much. Auguste Deter was the first person to be diagnosed - the year was 1902 and the physician was Alois Alzheimer. That's one hundred and sixteen years ago. How is it possible that the global scientific community still does not "fully understand the cause", and that "attempts to cure, halt or mitigate dementia's effects have been largely unsuccessful?"

I've read that greater financial investment is needed, on top of the ongoing efforts by governments and foundations. But is it really that? Maybe what this quest needs, more than just more money, is a true, powerful, all-connecting leader.?I know this isn't likely, but this is my?life, my sadness, my fear, my anger ... and my hope - I get to dream, don't I? Maybe that leader is a visionary with an unruly zest and limitless fervor the like of an Elon Musk - and maybe that leader is a company, maybe yours - heck, maybe mine!

In our publication we write that "the cost of caring for those with dementia is expected to increase due to our increasing ageing population and improvements in life expectancy. As a result, out-of-pocket spending by patients and their families, (currently about 40% of the total costs), will increase. It will also require larger contributions from governments and national health systems. However, these aren't likely to adequately cover the financial burden of the disease, establishing dementia as one of the biggest global public health challenges." ... one of the biggest public health challenges, one that's more costly than cancer, heart disease and stroke combined.?

I imagine that aforementioned elusive leader giving her/his/its one and all, putting "the quest for the cure" on the flag, engaging, combining, fostering, pushing - all with a singular purpose of, and laser-sharp focus on,?bringing about the cure. That person, or that company, take your pick, would years later be recognized around the world as THE deciding factor that had made it all come true ... what a purpose. If that person, or that company, is out there, I'd love to meet them.

My mom has Alzheimer's. I am my mother's son. I am sad. I am scared. I am angry ... and I dream against all odds until there is a cure ... so please, just let me dream.