This week the Alzheimer’s Association issued its 2010 Fact and Figures and the numbers show no surprises. That is, we were all expecting the numbers to be on a continual increase year over year and that was pretty evident in the reading. Let’s review the basic numbers:
- As the 7th leading cause of death in the US, 5.3 million Americans have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, half a million of them under the age of 65
- Approximately 15% of all individuals over 65 will acquire the disease. By 2030, the segment of the U.S. population aged 65 years and older is expected to double, and as such, so will the number of patients with Alzheimer’s disease
- 68% of all nursing home residents (3.3 million) display cognitive impairments ranging from mild to severe
- From 2000-2006, death rates have declined for most major diseases – heart disease, breast cancer, prostate cancer, stroke and HIV/AIDS – while deaths from Alzheimer’s disease rose more than 46%!
The impact Alzheimer’s disease has on caregivers continues to stagger the mind. There are 10.9 million unpaid caregivers in the US today caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease. Called the sandwich generation, over 70% of them are between the ages of 35 and 65, and may be caring for children as well as their parents. The economic cost of these caregivers is now at $144 billion, just factoring for the more than 20 hours per week that they dedicate to Alzheimer’s care. The indirect health impacts are evident for these care giving individuals as they are reported to be more likely to have high levels of stress hormones, reduced immune function, slow wound healing, hypertension, higher rates of depression and coronary heart disease.
The impact on the caregivers employment, related income, and financial security is also enormous. They are more likely to turn down promotions, quit work or reduce hours, and defer financially preparing for their own retirement. The cost of long term care at skilled nursing facilities is prohibitive for many middle income families for the duration that care is needed. A staggering 70% of those with Alzheimer’s disease are cared for at home.
Let’s talk about the impact on the health care system. A patient with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease costs the health care three times more per year to treat than an ill person that does not have Alzheimer’s, with the total annual cost running at $172 billion.
When looking at ethnicity, the report shows that African-Americans are, on average, two to three times more likely than whites to have cognitive impairment, and these differences are even greater in the younger age groups. Latinos are also more likely than whites to be afflicted. It’s reported that genetic factors don’t seem to be a relevant, rather socio-economic and lifestyle factors play a larger role. Those with a lower education or lower quality of education showed a higher likelihood of acquiring Alzheimer’s disease.
In a future article, we will discuss the initiatives and preparations that government and the health care system are taking to get ahead of this tidal wave of looming health care costs. Later, we will also address what we can do as individuals to reduce our risks of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease and avoid becoming a burden on our families as we age.