Nationwide Impact of Alzheimer's Disease Continues to Grow

In the July 2009 issue of Caring Right at Home, we looked at a study from the Alzheimer's Association showing the devastating financial toll of Alzheimer's disease. The study showed that Alzheimer's triples healthcare costs for seniors with the disease. This number becomes even more alarming when we realize that with the aging of the Baby Boomers, the number of new reported cases of the disease is rising steadily. 

The Alzheimer's Association now emphasizes the diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) as part of early Alzheimer’s medical treatment.

According to the study, 5.3 million Americans are living with the disease and every 70 seconds, someone in America develops Alzheimer's disease. By mid-century someone will develop Alzheimer's every 33 seconds. By 2010, there will be nearly a half million new cases of Alzheimer's each year; and by 2050, there will be nearly a million new cases per year.

"Currently, there are no treatments that can prevent, delay or reverse Alzheimer's disease, and research funding has been stagnant for the past six years. With the first Baby Boomers turning age 65—and entering the arena of increasing risk for developing Alzheimer's—an aggressive plan is needed now to address the threat of this disease. There are too many lives, too little time and too much at stake for anything less," said Harry Johns, Alzheimer's Association CEO.

Not Just a Family Issue

Demographic trends indicate that the number of affected individuals and families will grow significantly in the years to come, not only having a profound effect on families and health systems but also on state budgets. In order for states to plan for this rapidly growing population, they must first have reliable information about the characteristics and needs of their residents who are coping with Alzheimer's or other dementia.

To this end, since 2003, some states have added questions about caregiving for people with Alzheimer's and other dementias to their Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey, an annual state public health survey done in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The new Facts and Figures Report highlights the survey findings from the states of Washington and North Carolina. The BRFSS survey allows residents to say for themselves what their challenges are. For example, in Washington, 48 percent of the caregivers for individuals with memory loss or cognitive impairment revealed that stress was the greatest difficulty they faced. 

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI): an Emerging Issue

Experts believe that early detection of Alzheimer's disease and early intervention with improved therapies provides the greatest opportunity to delay or stop additional damage to the brain. To that end, the new report highlights the emerging role of a condition known as mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

A person with MCI has problems with memory, language or other essential cognitive functions that are severe enough to be noticeable to the individual and others, but not so severe as to interfere with daily life.

There is consensus within the scientific research community that intervention with any disease-modifying treatment should occur as early as possible, ideally even before symptoms appear. Individuals with MCI have a higher risk for developing Alzheimer's disease, but more research is needed to determine why some people with MCI go on to develop Alzheimer's, while others do not. By participating in scientific studies and clinical trials, individuals with MCI will help to speed progress in finding ways to prevent or cure Alzheimer's by providing scientists with the opportunity to test new Alzheimer treatments and learn faster whether or not the treatments work.

"Scientists are exploring a rich, diverse variety of treatment possibilities for Alzheimer's, offering great hope that drugs that may slow or even reverse disease progression could be on the horizon—saving millions of dollars in public health programs," said Ronald Petersen, M.D., Ph.D, the Alzheimer's Association's Medical Scientific Advisory Council Chair. "A national strategy and a sustained commitment to Alzheimer's research is what is needed today to make Alzheimer's survivors tomorrow."

Visit the website of The Alzheimer's Association to view a summary and the full text of the 2009 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures.

The Alzheimer's Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer's care, support and research. Their mission is to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Their vision is a world without Alzheimer's.

To learn how home care can help those with Alzheimer's disease, visit the Right at Home website.