Alzheimer’s Disease Affects Thousands in Wyoming

The Executive Director of the Alzheimer's Association of Wyoming says Alzheimer's directly affects 8,800 Wyoming residents, with the problem likely to increase as the population ages.

But Janet Lewis says the real impact of the disease in the cowboy state is actually much higher than that number, because Alzheimer's hits caregivers especially hard.

In many cases those caring for the Alzheimer's victim may be elderly and facing physical or financial challenges of their own.

Lewis says it's important for caregivers to  follow healthy habits like eating well, exercising and getting enough sleep. She says if possible it's also a good idea to rotate caring for the victim among different family members so that everyone  gets a break from the stress of caring for the victim.

While there are medications available to delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease and lessen some of it's symptoms, as of yet there is no cure for the disease