Alzheimer’s disease is a devastating degenerative brain disease that impairs brain function, leading to memory loss and decreased thinking skills. Eventually, individuals suffering with Alzheimer’s disease are unable to carry out basic everyday tasks and the disease ultimately leads to death. In 2010, 4.7 million people in the United States suffered from Alzheimer’s disease and a new study that was recently published in Neurology finds that this number may triple to 13.8 million by 2050.
The Alzheimer’s Research – Breakdown
Researchers looked at data from 10,802 African American and Caucasian people living in Chicago, aged 65 or older between 1993 and 2011. Every three years, the participants in the study were interviewed and assessed for dementia. The participants age, race and education level were all factored into the research. This data was then combined with US death rates, education and current as well as future population estimates that were obtained from the US Census Bureau. The results of the data analysis showed that the number of people in the United States that will be living with Alzheimer’s disease by 2050 is expected to be around 13.8 million. Furthermore, about 7 million of these individuals will be over the age of 85.
Reasons for the Dramatic Increase in Alzheimer’s Disease Cases
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The main reason for the significant increase in the number of people that will be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in the coming decades is the increasing age of the population. The population in the United States is aging and as more and more US baby boomers reach the age of 65, the risk of Alzheimer’s disease increases for these individuals. Also, due to advances in medicine, people are living longer lives. It is already known that increasing age is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease; therefore, the longer a person lives, the more likely it is that they will be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease at some point in their life. Additionally, as more attention is focused on Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, doctors are increasingly diagnosing patients with the disease whereas in the past, these individuals may not have received a clear diagnosis.
Reasons Why Early Detection of Alzheimer’s Disease is So Important
Early detection of Alzheimer’s disease is vital to help individuals and their families learn how to cope with their symptoms and to help preserve as much brain function as possible. An early diagnosis also allows families plan for the future, allowing them to make necessary arrangements for living accommodations and financial stability.
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Memory loss is usually one of the first signs that brain function is impaired and that an individual may be suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Other symptoms that brain function is impaired include difficulty with word finding, a decline in visual or spatial reasoning and a decline in reasoning and judgement. As Alzheimer’s disease progresses memory loss becomes more significant and the simplest tasks become difficult for the individual to carry out. If you start to notice signs of decreased brain function, including memory loss, in a loved one seek medical attention immediately so that treatment can begin as soon as possible.
The Findings from the Current Study on Alzheimer’s Disease …and What They Mean
The findings from the current study support previous research that has shown a disturbing trend in the number of cases of Alzheimer’s disease that will be diagnosed in the coming decades. It is vital that additional research be conducted on this debilitating disease and that new prevention and treatment options be developed to deal with the significant rise in Alzheimer’s disease cases that is projected to occur in the coming years. If, as a society, we do not prepare for the increasing number of cases of Alzheimer’s disease that will be diagnosed in the near future, those that are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease as well as their care givers will have a decreased quality of life. It is essential that Alzheimer’s disease prevention and treatment be a top priority in the coming years in order to reduce the burden on our medical and social support systems.
