For some it is slow, a process that takes place over years, for others it is quick, unrecognizable and caught all to late.

Alzheimer’s disease currently affects over six million Americans, according to an article in Huffington Post, and an estimated 500,000 Canadians, according to the Alzheimer Society of Toronto. These numbers are expected to grow, with many more seniors being diagnosed and many people unaware of the details about this disease.

According to the Alzheimer Society of Canada, Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia and is not a normal part of aging. A disease of the brain Alzheimer’s is fatal and degenerative disease that destroys brain cells. The disease is progressive and can include symptoms such as trouble remembering, difficulty performing every day tasks and making decisions. The stages of the disease can often overlap and vary according to each individual, but the duration of the disease averages from seven to 10 years. Thus it is crucial that awareness be raised about this neurodegenerative disease.

David Suzuki, scientist broadcaster has personally been touched by the disease and will be sharing this experience, along with a more scientific side in an upcoming documentary, Untangling Alzheimer’s. The show will air Thursday on CBC. Suzuki’s mother and three other family members have died of the disease, so Suzuki says it is something that he has become aware of in regards to himself. It is important to note that a small portion of people have an inherited form of Alzheimer’s. Suzuki believes that we need to be proactive in how we deal with an increase of seniors.

“Too often we are a reactive creature. We let the crisis happen and then say, ‘Oh my God, what are we going to do?’ But with dementia, we know it’s coming. We know we don’t have any treatments right now. So we better start looking at how we’re going to handle this,” says Suzuki in an article.

While we may think we have so much time and being a senior is far off in many young peoples minds, I believe it should be the opposite. A disease that is often not recognized for what it is is something we need to look deeper into. If we do not care for the aging population now, then who will care for us when it is our turn?

Like Suzuki I often wonder if one day I will be on the receiving end of this disease, as I have had two family members battle it. Wednesday will mark the passing of my Nona, Catherine Parker in 2007 from Alzheimer’s disease.

While Nona’s battle with Alzheimer’s was short in comparison to many others, it was long enough for my family to see the stages and negatives of the disease. It is no understatement when I say that Nona was the kindest soul and happiest woman I have known and that to see her dwindle before us was painful.

It was Alzheimer’s that made her at times forget who we were, that took away her ability to be independent and eventually took her ability to move, to talk and eventually to live.

So while my personal connection to this disease is strong and illustrates my points it is not something I choose not to dwell on. Instead I focus on the positive, like the incredible life of my Nona and the happy memories she left with me that are now my duty to remember and pass on.