There is a growing number of people with Alzheimer’s disease in the United States. About 6.9 million people are living with it currently. Of the total U.S. population, more than 1 in 9 people (11.3%) age 65 and older have Alzheimer’s, and the percentage increases with age: 5.3% of people ages 65 to 74, 13.8% of people ages 75 to 84, and 34.6% of people 85 and older.
Nearly two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer’s are women. Blacks are twice as likely as whites, and Latinos are 1.5 times as likely, to have Alzheimer’s or other dementia.
By 2060, the number of people age 65 and older with Alzheimer’s is projected to be 13.8 million.
Alzheimer’s and related dementias can be emotionally and financially ruinous for people living with the disease, their caregivers and families, and society at large. These dementias have catastrophic healthcare, economic, and social impacts, and the impacts are growing rapidly.
Someone in the United States develops Alzheimer’s disease every 60 seconds. By 2050 this is projected to be every 33 seconds.
Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, a progressive brain disease that slowly destroys memories and thinking skills. It often starts five, 10, or even 20 years before symptoms appear. Symptoms usually start with difficulty remembering new information. In advanced stages, symptoms include confusion, mood and behavior changes, and inability to care for oneself and perform basic life tasks.
Alzheimer’s is the only top-10 cause of death in the United States with no known cure.
One in three seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another dementia, killing more than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined.
Alzheimer’s disease is listed as the sixth leading cause of death, but it may cause more deaths than is recognized by official sources. The number of deaths due to Alzheimer’s increased by 145% between 2000 and 2019. During the same time period, deaths from heart disease (the nation’s No. 1 killer) increased 7.3%.
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The estimated number of caregivers for people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias is 11.2 million.
Caregivers provided 18 billion hours of unpaid care in 2022, valued at almost $340 billion.
Two-thirds of dementia caregivers are women.
The prevalence of depression is higher among dementia caregivers (30% to 40%) than other caregivers, such as those who provide help to individuals with schizophrenia (20%) or stroke (19%).
In 2023, the total national cost of caring for people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias was projected to reach $345 billion. That does not include the value of unpaid caregiving.
Retirees are more fearful of Alzheimer’s than infectious diseases such as COVID-19, as well as cancer, strokes or heart attacks, according to a 2020 study.
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Alzheimer’s is dangerously and chronically under-diagnosed. More than 60% of Alzheimer’s cases in patients over 65 are not diagnosed (a figure that would be considered unacceptable in cancer care or heart disease prevention.)
Studies show loneliness and social isolation are risk factors for cognitive decline. Socially isolated older adults have a 27% higher chance of developing dementia. And social disconnection’s impact on premature death is higher than smoking up to 15 cigarettes daily, drinking six alcoholic drinks daily, physical inactivity, and obesity, according to a 2023 U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory.
The Dale Association’s Memory Minders program works with individuals suffering with early onset memory loss. The program is designed to slow the progression of memory loss with brain stimulation and socialization programming. Participants enjoy fun activities including word puzzles, trivia, themed days, music, exercise and art. Participants meet on Mondays, Wednesdays and/or Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you know someone who needs stimulation and has mild dementia or early memory loss, The Dale is accepting applications for new participants. Please contact coordinator Sara Costello at 716-433-1886, extension 110, to schedule an assessment.
The program needs volunteers for Wednesday as well.