Baby boomers in the Comox Valley, like their counterparts around the rest of the country, have a troubling lack of awareness about Alzheimer鈥檚 disease, according to a new online survey.

鈥淭he gap in awareness in B.C. is sounding alarm bells as to whether our largest population is prepared for the rising tide of dementia that is ahead,鈥� says Jane Hope, the local support and education co-ordinator for the non-profit Alzheimer Society of B.C.

Perhaps more troubling, she adds, is that respondents to the national survey were unfamiliar with controllable risk factors associated with Alzheimer鈥檚 disease, such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease and chronic depression.

鈥淎wareness and education are the cornerstones for risk reduction, particularly since there is yet no cure or treatment to stop the progression of Alzheimer鈥檚 disease,鈥� Hope says.

鈥淧eople need to take care of their brain health. We need to work together to support those who are already on the dementia journey and to find the causes and cure for this devastating disease.鈥�

The survey was released this week to kick off national Alzheimer Awareness Month, which runs every January. Among its findings:

鈥� 24 per cent of B.C. baby boomers can鈥檛 name any of the early signs of Alzheimer鈥檚.

This is worrisome, Hope says, because the risk level for boomers doubles every five years after age 65. And boomers make up almost 30 per cent of the overall population in the province.

鈥� Less than half of those surveyed in B.C. were able to identify later-stage symptoms other than the most commonly known loss of memory.

鈥淭his indicates a general lack of awareness of life-altering changes such as hallucinations and complete dependency on others for basic care,鈥� she says.

Valley residents can test their own knowledge by taking the survey at www.alzheimerbc.org/testyourknowledge.aspx.

鈥淲e need everyone, especially those 40 and older, to learn about Alzheimer鈥檚 disease, know the warning signs, and reduce their risk by making simple lifestyle changes.鈥�

To help residents with the impact of Alzheimer鈥檚 disease or related dementia, the society runs a local support and information group. It offers practical tips, a supportive environment, and a chance to learn from, and share with, others in similar circumstances.

For more information on local resources for caregivers, contact Hope toll-free at 1-800-462-2833 or jhope@alzheimerbc.org.

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Alzheimer鈥檚 is the leading form of dementia. It is a fatal progressive disease of the brain that robs memory and steals the ability to reason, communicate and perform daily tasks.

Changes in the brain can begin to appear decades before diagnosis and progression can last between seven and 10 years. Eventually, the person affected will require 24-hour care and supervision.

Age is the single biggest risk factor, but the disease can also strike as early as 40.

The Alzheimer Society of B.C. is a non-profit organization providing province-wide support and education for families impacted by dementia and anyone concerned with memory loss, and leads a provincial effort to transform dementia care in the province.

More information on Alzheimer鈥檚 disease and related dementia is available at www.alzheimerbc.org.