Jennifer Garcia

Professor Syretta Massey

ENC 1101
December 3, 2014
140 NW 87 AVE
Miami, Florida 33172
National Institute on Aging
Building 31, Room 5C27
31 Center Drive, MSC 2292
Bethesda, MD 20892
Dear National Institute on Aging,
I would like to recognize your endeavors to provide adequate measures pertaining to the
support of the well-being and health of the elderly as a remarkable fulfillment. Simultaneously,
you have been also able to address several diseases, disabilities, and illnesses that individuals are
most likely to encounter as they grow older. Due to your efforts, you have been able to provide a
broad spectrum of research material and knowledge for a variety of illnesses, such as
Alzheimers disease. However, the fatal disease still seems to coexist within a society that is
spoiled with technological advancements and innovations, which dont seem to stop its
increasing pace within the world.
Despite it as a growing threat to society and its growth as an illness which affects
millions, Alzheimers disease lacks public awareness. There also seems to a variation of
misconceptions which blind many individuals to view the true reality and nature of the disease.
A substantial amount of people associate the symptoms of Alzheimers disease to the natural
onset and setbacks of aging, which includes minor memory loss. As a neurological and cognitive
disease, Alzheimers disease gradually destroys its victims abilities to remember, learn, and
communicate severely, to the extent in which they are eventually unable to function at all. Yet,
many individuals are unable to understand those affects and are uniformed about the diseases
victims inevitable faiths, death.
Aside from mentally impairing individuals, Alzheimers also implicates its effects onto
victims livelihood, families, and finances. Individuals who carry the disease are often secluded
within poor environments, which are usually not appropriate or do not provide the patients with
the needs they require for their circumstances. Very often, Alzheimers patients can wander
around and can be exposed to many hazards and dangers, which could threaten their own and
others welfare. Most families afflicted by Alzheimers are unable to ensure the safety of their
love ones with the necessary care and precautionary measures due to its costly expenses, which
many are unable to afford.
The absence of progression in discovering a preventative or curative for the disease may
be attributed to insufficient research funding. As you may also know, the diagnoses of the
disease cannot be identified with just a simple diagnostic test. The disease can go undetected for
several years during its progression before obvious and severe symptoms are noticed. This

makes the diagnosis, studies, and research extremely problematic. Although, there are few
medical treatments which could temporarily slow the onset of the symptoms, patients conditions
may worsen due to their reactions to medications. It can severely affect their mental health and
promote symptoms, such as hallucinations, anxiety, and depression.
As the primary Federal agency for research on Alzheimers disease, you should be able to
possess the adequate resources needed to resolve the majority of the issues mentioned. In my
opinion, its awareness is an essential priority for society to acknowledge it as a posing threat that
needs to be confronted immediately. With your expanding database and website, which offers
advice, knowledge, and research information, people can educate themselves about the disease
and may utilize it to care for Alzheimers patients properly. With donations and the possible
increase in government funds that could be attained through the promotion of awareness, you can
conduct more extensive research. Alzheimers is indeed a disease that can eventually be
contained, subdued, and eliminated with your help.

Sincerely,
Jennifer Garcia