Facts about Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s is a degenerative disease that impacts your ability to retain memory. Scientists continue to speculate on the causes of Alzheimer’s in order to find a way to treat, prevent or slow down the disease. Currently, most health professionals are unsure about the causes and risk factors in relation to Alzheimer’s.

There are few well-known facts about this disease. However, being aware of this disease is extremely important especially if you are a caregiver or loved one of someone who suffers from Alzheimer’s. Here are a few things that you may or may not know about it:

Genetics is a factor of the disease: If there is evidence within your family history of Alzheimer’s then there’s a chance that you may be at risk of having it.

Age: People within the age ranges of 65 and up are prone to having or developing this disease. Risk factor spikes as you get older.

Population: There are over 5 million people who suffer from Alzheimer’s, and by 2050 the number could rise to over triple that amount.

Death: Approximately 1 in every 3 senior citizens within the United States dies of Alzheimer’s or dementia.

Killer: The amount of deaths associated with Alzheimer’s is more than those of people diagnosed with breast cancer and prostate cancer combined.

Cost: Both Alzheimer’s and other dementias will cost the United States $259 billion. By the year 2050, those costs will increase as high as $1.1 Trillion.

Race is a factor: African- Americans are twice as likely to have Alzheimer’s than elderly Caucasians. Meanwhile, Hispanics are approximately one to one-half times as likely to suffer from Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia than elderly Caucasians.

Gender is a factor: Approximately 67% of Alzheimer sufferers are female, within the United States.