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The Alzheimer's Association is the nation's leading volunteer organization for Alzheimer care, support, and research. Earlier this year they released their new report: 2009 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures. The document is an eighty-page statistical abstract of United States data, with information on the prevalence of Alzheimer's, mortality, caregiving, and the cost of care. It also includes a special section on Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and early-stage Alzheimer's.Alzheimer's disease is a brain disorder named for Alois Alzheimer, the German physician who first described the disease in 1906. It destroys brain cells, causing problems with memory, thinking, and behavior.
A form of dementia, Alzheimer's is often associated with memory loss. But it's not just about memory loss. "As the disease advances, increased nerve cell death in the brain also causes individuals to develop problems with basic physical functions such as walking and swallowing," says the 2009 report. "Ultimately, the disease is fatal, with death typically occurring between four and six years after diagnosis."
New statistics show that Alzheimer's disease is now the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. It is the fifth cause of death for people aged 65 and older. Alzheimer's is not a normal part of aging, but age is the greatest risk factor. Approximately 5.3 million Americans live with Alzheimer's disease. One in eight people aged 65 or older has the disease, and the risk is higher for those over the age of 85. Another segment of the population affected with the disease includes people under the age of 65—200,000 Americans have younger-onset Alzheimer's.
As the baby-boomer generation reaches their mid-60s, the United States can expect a huge increase in the number of people with Alzheimer's. And along with it, a huge increase in Medicare and Medicaid costs. Businesses will see cost increases, too, as caregivers reduce work hours to take care of their loved ones with the disease.
Today, Alzheimer's and related dementia cost businesses and taxpayers an estimated 148 billion dollars annually. The new report suggests a magnification in 2030, when they estimate 7.7 million Americans will have the disease—and again in 2050, when that number will rise to 11-16
million. Prior to 1970s research, Alzheimer's was considered hopeless. Then research advances gained speed in the 1990s. However, despite the increase in knowledge about what causes Alzheimer's, no treatment is available to slow or stop the brain cell death that causes the disease to progress.
"In the last 16 years, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved five drugs that slow the worsening of symptoms, providing benefit for about six to twelve months for half the people who take them," says the Alzheimer's Association. "But these drugs do not stop brain cell death." The need for further research and better treatments is apparent when you compare the statistics for Alzheimer's with the other top causes of death. "Between 2000 and 2006, deaths attributed to Alzheimer's disease increased 47.1 percent. In contrast, deaths attributed to heart disease decreased 11.5 percent and deaths attributed to stroke decreased 18.1 percent," the report says.
Every 70 seconds, someone in the United States develops Alzheimer's disease. By mid-century, this will occur every 33 seconds. The earlier Alzheimer's disease is diagnosed, the earlier treatment can begin—and the best chance for delaying or stopping additional brain damage....http://www.associatedcontent.com
Vitamin insufficiency may accelerate age-related diseases
Current recommendations for vitamin K are not being met, placing people at increased risk of age-related diseases such as cancer and heart disease, says a new analysis. Current recommendations for vitamin K are not being met, placing people at increased risk of age-related diseases such as cancer and heart disease, says a new analysis. ...http://www.nutraingredients.com
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