Alzheimer’s Disease: How Much Do You Really Know?

Since November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, we felt it would be a good idea to explore this illness in a little more depth. If you’re unfamiliar with this health awareness event, we recommend reading our post from last year.

It’s estimated that there are now more than 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease. People often associate this illness with growing old, but unfortunately clinical studies have shown that this is not always the case. There are at least 200,000 people under the age of 65 who have developed early onset Alzheimer’s (some develop symptoms before the age of 50).

That’s probably not the only misconception you’ve heard about this neurological disorder. There are several facts about Alzheimer’s that may surprise you:

Some Deadly Statistics for Alzheimer’s

5 million may seem like an incredibly large number now, but experts believe that there will be at least three times as many people living with Alzheimer’s by the year 2050. This puts a lot of pressure on researchers to develop more effective therapies and eventually a cure in the next few decades.

You probably have already heard that Alzheimer’s is deadly, but did you know that it is the sixth leading cause of death in the country? Those who are diagnosed with this terrible illness live for an average of 8 years after the symptoms have become noticeable. With positive responses to therapies, some patients may be able to survive for another decade or more.

The Demand on Caregivers

Last year, family members and friends provided more than 17 billion hours of unpaid care to patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Looking at it another way, we considered that number of hours if they had been worked for minimum wage. This would amount to a whopping total of $220 billion. Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s can be extremely demanding (please visit the NIH for more resources). Women have shouldered more of this burden, and nearly 19 percent eventually quit their jobs due to the demand.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month gets a lot of exposure in the media nowadays, but would you be surprised to learn that nearly two-thirds of the cases diagnosed in this country are in women? You might be even more surprised when you look at the average American woman’s lifetime risk over 60 years– 1 in 6 develop Alzheimer’s disease. What’s the same lifetime risk for breast cancer? It is 1 in 11.

Clinical studies on dementia and Alzheimer’s suggest that engaging in activities designed to stimulate brain function can help preserve cognitive sharpness and improve overall volume. This means that playing challenging games or completing puzzles can lower your overall risk. Research also shows that staying active throughout your life is crucial.

Forgetfulness Doesn’t Always Mean it’s Alzheimer’s Disease

Some people can grow anxious if they have an issue with their memory, especially when older than 50. This does not mean that someone has developed Alzheimer’s disease. That being said, you should not ignore these problems. Schedule an examination with a neurologist experienced in identifying Alzheimer’s symptoms.

The disease is the most common type of dementia, and studies suggests that there is a genetic component when it comes to the disease. In fact, researchers have identified certain genes (such as APOE-e4) which are linked to a higher risk. If someone in your family has been afflicted with Alzheimer’s, we recommend that you talk to your doctor about it.