BMJ 2001;323:879-880 ( 20 October )

Editorials

Neurodegenerative disorders

This major cause of chronic suffering is reason enough for a theme issue

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Inow begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life," was how Ronald Reagan described his remaining life.1 That was seven years ago when he told the world that he had Alzheimer's disease. The sunset has been a prolonged one, as is usual in most neurodegenerative disorders, of which Alzheimer's is a prototype. All have an insidious onset, progress slowly over years, and death is usually due to an intercurrent illness and not directly due to the disease itself. Predictably the global burden of diseases like Alzheimer's will rise with increasing longevity. Much of the burden is also borne by carers and relatives. Reagan's daughter, Maureen Reagan, summed up what the illness means to carers. "[Ronald's wife Nancy is] the one who wakes up with it every morning and goes to sleep with it every night."2 Unfortunately Nancy Reagan's burden does not figure in any report . . . [Full text of this article]
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This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Monterosso, L., Kristjanson, L. J., Aoun, S., Phillips, M. B. (2007). Supportive and palliative care needs of families of children with life-threatening illnesses in Western Australia: evidence to guide the development of a palliative care service. Palliat Med 21: 689-696 [Abstract]  

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