Symposium addresses Alzheimer's disease

FLORENCE - Kathy Joe Spears said the statistics regarding dementia and Alzheimer's disease are staggering.

The latest facts released from the Alzheimer's Association indicate as many as 5.3 million people in the U.S. are living with Alzheimer's.

"And every 70 seconds someone develops Alzheimer's," said Spears, chairwoman of the Coalition of Alzheimer's and Related Disorders of Northwest Alabama.

Spears said that's why conferences such as the upcoming 16th Alzheimer's Symposium taking place Friday are so important.

"The conference is a way to help people learn more about Alzheimer's and dementia, and how to recognize the symptoms and then what help is available," Spears said.

The report by the Alzheimer's Association points out that the disease is predicted to nearly double every 20 years.

"It's not getting any better, so we have to educate people on the disease and what's new to help with the disease," Spears said.

"That's why conferences like the one we're having are so vital. It's a chance to get information out to people who have loved ones with Alzheimer's."

The conference will feature Dr. Erik D. Roberson, who specializes in movement disorders and deep brain stimulation at UAB School of Medicine in Birmingham; Dr. Richard Powers, director of the Bureau of Geriatric Psychiatry, Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation and Memory Disorders Clinics at UAB; and Jenny Nolan-Marko.

Spears said Nolan-Marko will be speaking on helping professionals and family caregivers deal with the stress of caring for an Alzheimer's patient.

"It's all about helping people learn more about this disease, how to help people who are suffering from it and how to be a better caregiver," Spears said.

Tom Smith can be reached at 740-5757 or tom.smith@TimesDaily.com.