The 2017 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report shows the number of Iowans impacted by the memory-robbing disease continues to grow. Carol Sipfle is the Executive Director for the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Iowa Chapter. “The number of Iowans with Alzheimer’s Disease has gone up. And the 2017 estimates are that 64-thousand Iowans have Alzheimer’s, and that’s compared to 63-thousand the last few years,” Sipfle says.

The projections in the report show Alzheimer’s cases increasing by around three percent by 2020, and then jumping by around 14 percent to 73-thousand in Iowa by 2025. Sipfle says the increase is due to people living longer as aging is the highest risk factor. “Secondly we expect the cases of the disease to increase because of better ways of diagnosing the disease and reporting it. So, we expect more people to have it,” Sipfle says.

Alzheimer’s disease most often strikes Iowans who are over the age of 65 and those age 85 and over account for nearly half the cases. “It is the sixth leading cause of death in Iowa, “Sipfle says, “and people don’t think of Alzheimer’s disease as a cause of death. But it is the sixth leading cause of death in Iowa, as it turns out.”

The impact of the disease goes well beyond those who have it — as the report says the cost of caring for Alzheimer’s and other patients with dementia is estimated at 259 BILLION dollars in 2017. “It’s staggering, I think in part because there is no known way to prevent, treat or cure Alzheimer’s,” Sipfle says. “So, all of those costs are really put into caregiving and just trying to help the person with the disease live a comfortable life during the duration of the disease.”

Sipfle says the positive news is there is a lot of research underway. She says some of the trends in research are to look for biomarkers in the blood to detect Alzheimer’s disease or changes in the brain long before the symptoms are identified. “And that is encouraging, because then if we can determine what that is then medications can be developed to slow the onset of Alzheimer’s disease,” Sipfle says.

Sipfle says there is a worldwide study on ways to prevent the disease. “These are all encouraging — they all however do take time and of course take money to speed up the process and find solutions to this problem,” Sipfle says. Sipfle encourages anyone who has any questions about Alzheimer’s disease to give them a call. “We have a toll-free number that is answered 24-7, which is 1-800-272-3900. And we also have a website that is just rich with information and resources, and that website is www.alz.org,” Sipfle says. You can find out more about the Alzheimer’s report at alz.org/facts.

(Radio Iowa)

A reminder for patrons of the Griswold Community School District: A Special School Board meeting is set to take place this evening at 7 in the High School Auditorium,with regard to the District’s facilities.

Griswold Superintendent David Henrichs said late last month, that “For the past several months the facilities committee has been carefully evaluating the costs to maintain multiple school buildings while considering the long-term operational impacts. During [tonight’s] Special Board meeting, which is focused on school facilities, the committee and the architect representing the school will share their findings and make a final recommendation to the Board of Education regarding the next steps.”

He says “With the School Board’s consent, the community intends to further define the plans, the cost and educational benefits for our students.” The Facilities Committee will meet prior to this evening’s meeting, beginning at 5-p.m. Henrichs says the committee feels like they are ready to make a recommendation to the School Board, and the Board will be asked whether they wish to approve that recommendation.

BLAIR, Neb. (AP) – Officials say Grace University plans to move from its Omaha campus to the former Dana College campus in Blair. The move is part of a proposed $92 million redevelopment project announced Monday night in Blair. The project would include a Lutheran Church, a nursing facility, a film studio and a multi-generational housing development.

The campus has been closed since 2010 after an accreditation body refused to approve its sale to for-profit investors. Midland University announced in 2013 plans to reopen the Dana campus but dropped those plans when officials concluded that the costs of reopening Dana were prohibitive compared to other growth options.

Grace University officials have already said the Omaha school district plans to buy the Grace campus.

Sheriff’s Deputies in Montgomery County, Monday night arrested a man who’s been  arrested twice before, in less than one month. 27-year old Eduardo Monrreal-Robles, of Elliott, was arrested following a traffic stop at the intersection of 110th Street and H Avenue at around 9:20-p.m., Monday. Monrreal-Robles was taken into custody for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was also cited for Driving While License Suspended. His bond at the Montgomery County Jail was set at $300.

Monrreal-Robles was previously arrested Feb. 22nd on a Montgomery County warrant for Failure to Appear in Court on a Driving While Suspended charge, and Feb 15th, for Driving with a Suspended License with 13 withdrawals in effect.

Another bald eagle has died of UN-natural causes in Iowa. Law enforcement officials are investigating after a bald eagle was found shot to death in southwest Winneshiek County last week. DNR officials say the eagle was found in a road ditch four miles north of Jackson Junction last Friday. State Conservation Officer Brian Roffman says anyone with information about the incident can use the agency’s “turn in poachers” website or may call the toll free tipline at 1-800-532-2020. Bald eagles are a state and federally-protected species.

In late February, a central Iowa man was cited in connection with the death of a bald eagle that was found shot and dismembered in a county park on the southeast side of Des Moines. Authorities say the man had the bird’s head and talons, but they suspect someone else killed the eagle.

(Radio Iowa)