Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month: Nearly 6 million Americans have it, and the burden is projected to increase to 13.9 million by 2060.

Millions of Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Health experts predict that the number of Americans with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia will increase as the US population over the age of 65 continues to grow. In the United States, an estimated 5.8 million people over the age of 65 will live with Alzheimer’s disease in 2020. 80% are over 75 years old.

Of the total population of the United States, according to the Alzheimer’s Association 1 in 10 People over the age of 65 (10%) have Alzheimer’s disease. The proportion of sick people increases with age: 3% of people aged 65-74, 17% of people aged 75-84, and 32% of people aged 85 and over have it. People under the age of 65 can also develop Alzheimer’s disease, but it is much less common and the prevalence is uncertain.

The estimated number of people aged 65 and over with Alzheimer’s disease is from the 2010 US Census and a survey using the latest data from the Chicago Health and Aging Project (CHAP) on the chronic health of the elderly. This is a population-based survey. The quote is probably underestimated. “Alzheimer’s disease is often underdiagnosed, and when diagnosed, people are often unaware of their diagnosis. Most Americans with Alzheimer’s disease know that they have it. You may not know, “the author writes.

For example, a recent study by the Alzheimer’s Association found that, on average, primary care physicians have a 92% chance of notifying patients when cognitive impairment is detected, and 64% of physicians are always informing patients. I am reporting. Of the 36% of physicians surveyed who do not always inform patients, 73% say it is premature to provide information before a complete diagnostic test, and 41% have a brief cognitive assessment. States that the rate of false positives or false negatives is high.

The· experience Exacerbation or more frequent confusion or amnesia (often called subjective cognitive decline) is one of the earliest warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease and is a way to identify people at high risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. There may be. In a behavioral risk factor monitoring system survey that included questions about subjective cognitive decline, 11% of Americans over the age of 45 reported subjective cognitive decline, while 54% of those who reported it. I didn’t consult a medical professional. Not all people who experience subjective cognitive decline develop dementia.

“Subjective cognitive decline refers to deterioration of individual memory and self-awareness of other thinking abilities, apart from cognitive tests, clinical diagnoses, or what others are aware of. If you are worried about your cognitive decline, you should consult a medical professional. ”

More women are affected than men. Almost two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer’s disease are women. Of the 5.8 million, 3.6 million are women and 2.2 million are men. Based on other estimates, among people over the age of 71, 16% of women have Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia, compared to 11% of men.

Incidence and future forecast

Incidence provides a measure of the risk of developing the disease. According to one analysis, about 491,000 people over the age of 65 will develop Alzheimer’s disease in the United States in 2020. Other studies have reached much higher incidence estimates. For example, CHAP estimates that in 2011, about 910,000 people over the age of 65 developed Alzheimer’s disease in the United States. This number is expected to be even higher in 2020 if CHAP estimates were available that year.

“By 2025, the number of people aged 65 and over with Alzheimer’s disease is projected to reach 7.1 million, which is almost 22 from 5.8 million people aged 65 and over affected in 2020. That’s an increase of%, “the analysis reveals.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the burden of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia in 2014 was 5 million, 1.6% of the US population in 2014, or 319 million.This burden is projection By 2060, it will grow to 13.9 million, or 417 million, which is about 3.3% of the population.

Alzheimer’s disease association reports that between 2020 and 2025, the number of Alzheimer’s disease cases is expected to increase by at least 6.7% in all states across the country. These projected increases in the number of people with Alzheimer’s disease are solely due to the projected increase in the population aged 65 and over in these states. Regional patterns of future burden may differ from those reported here, as risk factors for dementia, such as middle-aged obesity and diabetes, can vary dramatically by region and state. there is. Based on these projections, the western and southeastern regions are expected to have the highest growth rates for people with Alzheimer’s disease between 2020 and 2025.

Killing Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and the fifth leading cause of death among people aged 65 and over. An estimated one in three elderly people die of Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia. It is also a major cause of disability and poor health. Before a person with Alzheimer’s disease dies, he or she survives years of morbidity as the disease progresses.

Deaths from other major causes have decreased significantly or remained the same, but official records show a significant increase in deaths from Alzheimer’s disease. Between 2000 and 2018, the number of deaths from Alzheimer’s disease recorded on death certificates more than doubled, increasing by 146%, but the number of deaths from the leading cause of death (heart disease) was 7.8. % Decreased.

In the United States as a whole, the 2018 Alzheimer’s disease mortality rate (the latest year for which state-by-state data is available) was 37.3 per 100,000.

Among other findings, the analysis found that between 2000 and 2018, Alzheimer’s disease mortality increased by 32% in people aged 65 to 74, but 53% in people aged 75 to 84. , Shows an 84% increase in people over the age of 85. Of the 70-year-olds, 61% of people with Alzheimer’s disease are expected to die before the age of 80, compared to 30% of people without Alzheimer’s disease. This is twice the rate.

“The increase in the number of death certificates that list Alzheimer’s as the underlying cause of death is probably the actual increase in the actual number of deaths from Alzheimer’s due to the disease becoming a more common cause of death as the population ages. There is also an increase in reports of Alzheimer’s death on death certificates by doctors, autopsy officers, and others who have assigned causes of death, “the report explains.

People over the age of 65 live an average of 4-8 years after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, but some live with Alzheimer’s disease for as long as 20 years. This reflects the slow and uncertain progression of the disease, says the Alzheimer’s Association. “People between the ages of 70 and 80 with Alzheimer’s dementia spend an average of 40% of this time in severe stages. Most of this time is spent in nursing homes. At age 80, Alzheimer’s dementia About 75% of people live in nursing homes, but only 4% of the 80-year-old population. ”

Cost to the people

Medical and long-term care costs for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are significant, and dementia is one of the most costly conditions for society. By 2020, the cost of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia is projected to be $ 305 billion, including Medicare and Medicaid payments of $ 206 billion. Out-of-pocket payments are expected to be $ 66 billion, or 22% of total payments.

Studies show that people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias have twice as long a hospital stay as other older people. Elderly people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias spend more time in skilled care facilities and home care visits each year than other older people. People with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias also make up the majority of all older people who receive day service and nursing home care.

“Unless treatments are developed to delay, stop, or prevent the disease, Alzheimer’s disease is projected to cost more than $ 1.1 trillion ($ 2020) in 2050. This dramatic increase in Medicare and Medicade It includes more than four-fold increases in both government spending and out-of-pocket spending below, “warns the researchers.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any questions about your medical condition, always seek advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider.