Monthly Archives: February 2015

Most death trends are down. That’s great news.

Alzheimer's Disease

One of the many blessings of medical research, good medical care, a healthy diet, and truth about how to take care of ourselves is longer life. My dad lived to be 88. My wife’s father lived to be 94 years old.

Many years ago I pastored a church in Johnson City, Tennessee. Just this past Sunday, Hilda Gutierrez, a member of that church celebrated her 100th birthday.

Many times these folks remain physically strong and mentally sharp. Some are not so fortunate. Here is more important information for our Facts & Stats:

There are six leading health-risk killers in the USA today: Those six leading causes are: breast cancer, prostate cancer, heart disease, stroke, HIV, and Alzheimer’s disease. Due to all the research, medical care, and focus personally and professionally, when we look at death rates from these diseases between the years 2000 and 2010, even though there are still too many people dying from these factors, actually deaths from five out of these six are down.

  • Breast cancer, down 2%
  • Prostate cancer, down 8%
  • Heart disease, down 16%
  • Stroke, down 23%
  • HIV, down 42%
  • Alzheimer’s disease, increased 68%

We must keep seeking and praying for a cure, reversal, and prevention of this and other forms of dementia. More tomorrow

We Rejoice in Hope

Thoughts

In Romans 5:1-2, Paul wrote about how we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God even through difficult times. “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” The believer’s hope is a guarantee that the promises of God will not fail and will be completely fulfilled.

When we read on in verses 3-5, we see that our hope expands. “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Our hope is tested and it expands as we go through trials and tribulations of life. The believer’s hope is a guarantee that the promises of God will not fail and will be fulfilled.

In Romans 12:12 we see that we endure difficult situations and we continue in prayerful expectation because of the hope we have in Christ. “Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer.”

In 1 John 3:3 we find that because Jesus is in us and is a living hope, this hope within us is a cleansing agent. “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. The hope we have in Christ gives us reason to rejoice.

Alzheimer’s a major concern for women

Alzheimer's Disease, ,

Continuing with more data …

  • Nearly 50% of people who live beyond the age of 85 will suffer from Alzheimers disease.
  • While deaths from stroke, heart attack, and various forms of cancer seem to be declining, deaths from Alzheimer’s disease are increasing. There was a 47% increase in cases of Alzheimer’s between the years 2000 and 2006.
  • What is the greatest health fear amount women today? In most women it is breast cancer. However, women in their 60s and beyond are almost twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease during the rest of their lives as they are to developing breast cancer.

For these and many other reasons we need to keep praying and seeking the answer from our Lord as to how to reverse these trends. More tomorrow as we look at some good and not so good news from the years 2000 to 2010.

Our Rest In Hope

Thoughts

In Philippians 1:19-21 Paul wrote of his confident rest in the Lord. There we find, “For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

When Paul wrote these words he was under house arrest in Rome. We can see by his verbiage he did not know if he would be released or be executed. However, if execution was his fate, because of his hope in Christ he would be able to face what was ahead – whether it was life or death. When we rest in Christ and the hope we have in Christ, we can face the future whatever it may be. We prepare for the future but we must not forget to live today.

In conclusion, consider these great verses of Scripture.

Acts 2:26
“Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

The Seriousness of the Issue

Alzheimer's Disease
  • It has been carefully estimated 5.2 million people in the USA have Alzheimer’s disease; 30 million people worldwide.
  • It has been projected that unless a cure is found, 16 million people in the USA will develop Alzheimer’s by 2050; 100 million worldwide.
  • At this rate unless a cure is found, another person develops Alzheimer’s disease every 67 seconds.
  • 1 in 8 older Americans have Alzheimer’s.
  • More than 200,000 people under the age of 65 have early onset Alzheimer’s disease. As people live beyond the age of 65, their chance of having Alzheimer’s doubles every 5 years.

There Are Many Forms of Dementia

Alzheimer's Disease

Dementia is not a specific disease. It is an overall term that describes a wide range of symptoms associated with a decline in memory or other thinking skills severe enough to reduce a person’s ability to perform everyday activities.

  • Alzheimer’s Disease: Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia. 60% – 80% of people with dementia will develop Alzheimer’s Disease.
  • Vascular Dementia: The second most common form of dementia. Vascular dementia occurs after a stroke.
  • Parkinson’s Disease: The third most common form of dementia.