The case elucidated in this article notwithstanding, my mom has early-onset Alzheimers (symptoms started in her mid 50s, she's 63 now), and it's a completely different monster. She's still independent with some help, but soon enough none of us will be equipped to handle her care. My wife and I lived with her for a month last year and it was incredibly challenging, especially emotionally, for both of us.

Alzheimer's disease and similar dementias and neuro-degenerative disorders are on the cusp of becoming major epidemics, if they aren't already, and neither individuals nor the state are equipped to handle the amount of care needed. It requires not only a certain kind of expertise to help care for people with dementia, but also a great deal of emotional resilience. I've seen my otherwise stoic uncles break down in their attempts to help my mom, and it's not even the hard part yet.