Witnessing a loved one develop Alzheimer's disease is extremely emotional experience, as many metro Washington, D.C., area residents know. Those who suffer from early-onset Alzheimer's receive "Compassionate Allowances" from the Social Security Administration, meaning the applications of those who suffer from the disease should be fast-tracked. However, as the U.S. population grows, more and more people are expected to be diagnosed with the disease which may cause the fast-tracking system to become backlogged.

The U.S. government is trying to tackle Alzheimer's disease with a goal to find an effective treatment by 2025. The Obama administration has called for the National Alzheimer's Plan to address medical and social costs of dementia. The program is looking for both better treatments and improved day-to-day care, the latter of which may be aided when Alzheimer's patients are able to secure Social Security benefits.

Alzheimer's disease can often be difficult to detect and diagnose early. The symptoms, memory loss and confusion, are too often dismissed as effects of getting aging. Additionally, the disease is developing for years before symptoms surface. Without a medical diagnosis, the SSA is not able to fast-track a decision, which often leads to a lengthy appeal process.

The news article states that an estimated 5.4 million Americans currently have Alzheimer's or similar dementias, and by 2050, it is expected to affect between 13 million and 16 million Americans.

Currently, available treatments only ease dementia symptoms temporarily.

About half of those who suffer from Alzheimer's have not been formally diagnosed, both because of a stigma and the conviction that nothing can be done about it, according to the report. However, as noted above, it is important to have a diagnosis on paper in order to apply for Social Security disability benefits.

Source: Associated Press, "Alzheimer's families seek help now as government eyes target of 2025 for effective treatment,"Jan. 17, 2012