Alzheimer’s to Become Defining Disease of Baby Boomers, As First Wave Turn 65 this Year
Expert Available to Comment on Recently Released Annual Alzheimer’s Association Facts and Figures Report
WHAT: The Alzheimer’s Association 2011 annual report (available at www.alz.org) confirms America’s population is quickly “graying.” In less than 20 years, Americans aged 65 and older will make up 20 percent of the population, and by 2050, the number of older Americans with Alzheimer’s disease may triple, from 5.4 million to as many as 16 million.
This projected increase will also impact the number of unpaid Alzheimer’s disease caregivers and associated healthcare costs. According to the report, there are now 15 million unpaid caregivers in the U.S. And, Alzheimer’s-associated healthcare costs are projected to increase from $183 billion in 2011 to a staggering $1.1 trillion by 2050.
While researchers around the world search for a cure, individuals with Alzheimer’s disease – and their caregivers – can still benefit from actively managing the disease with the “appropriate use of available treatment options,” among other strategies.
WHO: Jeffrey Applebaum, M.D., a family practitioner who sees Alzheimer’s patients and an assistant clinical professor of family medicine at the University of California, Davis
Dr. Applebaum is available to discuss:• 2011 Alzheimer’s Association annual report highlights and its relevance to Americans • Signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease versus old age• The importance of diagnosis and available treatment options• Tips for caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease
ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE FACTS • An estimated 5.4 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease • Every 69 seconds, someone in the U.S. develops Alzheimer’s disease; by 2050, someone will develop it every 33 seconds• Alzheimer’s disease is the fifth leading cause of death for those aged 65 and older and the sixth leading cause of death across all ages in the U.S. • An estimated one in eight persons aged 65 or older (13 percent) has Alzheimer’s disease, and nearly half are 85 or older• The South and West are expected to experience 50 percent and greater increases in the numbers of people with Alzheimer’s between 2000 and 2025; Some states (AL, CO, ID, NV, UT, WY) are projected to double or more the number of people with Alzheimer’s• Eighty percent of at-home care for people with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia is provided by family caregivers
This radio media tour is made available by Forest Laboratories, Inc.
