Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's disease is an irreversible age-related, chronic neurodegenerative disorder, that destroys the memory associated with the ability to carry out even the simplest of tasks. Alzheimer's disease has become a public health problem among the elderly. It is also a common cause of dementia.
Alzheimer's disease begins slowly and involves parts of the brain that control thinking, memory and language. A related problem called Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) can also cause memory problems for people of the same age. It has no current cure, but treatment for symptoms are available.
Facts on Alzheimer Disease
- Approximately, 44 million people all over the world are estimated to be suffering from Alzheimer's disease or related dementia.
- Alzheimer's disease is the fifth leading cause of disability and poor health among the elderly over the age of 65.
- It is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, with over 5.5 million Americans living with Alzheimer's disease in 2017. It is estimated that one case is reported every 66th second.
- Alzheimer’s prevalence has been estimated to be at the highest in Western Europe, North America and lowest in South Asia, India and Africa.
- From 2000-2014, deaths associated with Alzheimer's disease as recorded on death certificates increased by 89 percent, while deaths from the leading cause of death such as heart disease decreased by 14 percent.
- Women’s estimated lifetime risk of developing Alzheimer's disease at the age of 65 could be 1 in 6, compared to men who may have a 1 in 11 risk of Alzheimer’s.
- In 2015, an estimated 15.9 million people including family members and friends provided an approximately 18.2 billion hours of assistance to Alzheimer patients, a contribution valued at $230.1 billion by the United States.
- An estimated one-quarter of caregivers are the "sandwich generation", which care for both the aging parents and children under 18 years of age. 41% of these caregivers may have a household income less than $50,000.
- The cost of long-term care for individuals with Alzheimer's disease has been estimated at $259 billion in 2017, as Medicare and Medicaid are expected to cover only 67 percent of the total health care plan for these patients, with out-of- the-pocket spending estimated to cross $56 billion.
- Total annual payments for health care and hospice care for people with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias have been estimated to increase from $259 billion in 2017 to more than $1.1 trillion in 2050.
- Almost two-thirds of Americans who have Alzheimer's disease are women.
- Hispanics and African-Americans are one and a half and two times more likely to have Alzheimer's disease than older white women.
- Alzheimer's disease is considered to be the only disease, among the top 10 causes of death that cannot be prevented, cured or slowed.
References:
- Alzheimer's Disease - (http://www.medindia.net/patients/patientinfo/alzheimers.htm)
- 2017 ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE FACTS AND FIGURES - (https://www.alz.org/facts/)
- Alzheimer’s Disease: Facts & Figures - (https://www.brightfocus.org/alzheimers/article/alzheimers-disease-facts-figures)
- Where are the Lowest Rates of Alzheimer’s in the World? - (https://nutritionfacts.org/2015/11/12/where-are-the-lowest-rates-of-alzheimers-in-the-world/)
- Alzheimer's Disease - Infographic - (http://www.medindia.net/health-infographics/alzheimers-disease.htm)
