This is the first in a series of blogs revealing Beller Health Research Institute's history. The series is not in chronological order, but instead focuses on events and how we evolved as an institute. This first historical blog focuses on dementia and what prompted me to write dozens of books and hundreds of blogs on dementia.
Why such focus on dementia?
My dementia research began several years ago when I wrote an Alzheimer's book. Although a health researcher and advocate for decades, I entered the project knowing little about Alzheimer's, and even less about dementia, other than the horrifying symptoms I had observed in others, including loved ones.
Dementia Lessons
I discovered:
- Alzheimer's is one of fourteen primary diseases causing dementia symptoms
- There are two Lewy body dementias
- There are six Vascular dementias
- Many people develop more than one dementia
- One of six Americans dies from dementia
- Dementia strikes one of three seniors
- Dementia strikes all ages
- The average general practitioner cannot name the 14 dementias
While I continued to write nonfiction on other subjects, and political thrillers, my interest kept returning to dementia. Dementia strikes humans, destroys and bankrupts families, overwhelms voluntary caregivers, and causes national financial problems around the globe. While my wife and I still write fiction under another pen name, and other nonfiction, dementia research evolved into my day job.
Independent Medical Research
I collaborate with other dementia researchers and health professionals to advocate independent medical research to discover:
- A urine or blood test for accurate and quick diagnosis for all 14 dementia.
- A vaccine to prevent each dementia.
- A cure for those diagnosed with dementia.
As Beller Health Research Institute's lead author, I write books, blogs, articles, journals, and press releases to educate health professionals, government officials, caregivers, and the general public on a medical condition that threatens everybody on the planet.
International researchers conduct promising research on animals and small studies, but the breakthroughs we seek require more expensive, larger, long-term human studies meeting strict scientific and humane standards. Private donors and governments must step up to fund and fight this war against dementia as if the human race depends on our success.
Instead of partisans wasting everyday fighting, why not unite to fight a common enemy? The question is one I asked myself, and led me to become a medical researcher, and writing and promoting health instead of the political path I once traveled. The question led me to the Beller Health Research Institute. I want to fight for something that potentially benefits everybody no matter the demographic or superficial human classifications. When it comes to medical research (and in general), my race is the human race.