Each year, the Alzheimer’s Association publishes its report of the disease, including general facts and figures. This year’s report is as complete as every previous year, but also includes a very special report on Women and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Here (Alz facts_figures_2014) is the full report, but we wanted to highlight a few key pieces of information, including its effect on women.
• More than 5.2 million people in the United States live with the disease in 2014 alone
• 1 in 3 individuals over the age of 85 live with AD
• AD is nearly twice as prevalent in African Americans and Hispanics in relation to Caucasians
• AD is nearly twice as prevalent in women as compared to men
• Someone in the US is diagnosed with AD every 67 seconds
• Nearly 500,000 Americans will be diagnosed with AD this year
• By 2050, the number of Americans living with AD is expected to be between 13 and 16 million
• In 2013, 17.7 billion hours of unpaid care was provided to individuals living with AD
• The estimated value of unpaid care for those with D in 2013 was more than $220 million
• The estimated cost for care of individuals with AD in 2014 is more than $214 billion
• This cost is expected to increase to over $1.2 TRILLION by 2050 in the United States
As you can see, AD is a continuing epidemic and needs immediate attention as it continues to spiral out of control affecting more and more individuals every minute. If you have a few minutes, download the 2014 report and take a look at the information contained therein. Contact your state and federal legislators and urge them to continue to allocate federal dollars to treatment and prevention of this disease.
At Centennial Adultcare Center, we see the effect of the disease each and every day, on those living with it, and those caring for them. Spread the word among those you know, and affect change in every way you can. Contact us today with any questions about AD or how we can help those living with the disease or caring for someone that does.