As families gather around dining tables across the country this holiday season, it is an excellent opportunity to check on the health of aging parents. Americans are living longer than ever; the mortality risk in this country has decreased by over 50 percent over the past 80 years. With this aging population, however, the prevalence of and care cost of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease continues to rise.
The statistics are staggering. According to the Alzheimer’s Association:
♦ 1 in 8 Americans has Alzheimer’s disease
ο About 10 million baby boomers are expected to develop the disease in their lifetime
ο Sixth leading cause of death in the United States
ο 15 million Americans provide unpaid care for those with diminished brain function
ο Care for these patients is estimated to reach $200 billion in 2012
→ At the current rate, associated costs are also expected to rise to $1.1 trillion by 2050.
With the data at hand, unless a treatment or cure is found, the Baby Boom generation will become, “Generation Alzheimer’s.”
What is Alzheimer’s?
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. Although a certain amount of memory decline is expected as part of the normal aging process, Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia that worsens over time. Many associate Alzheimer’s with old age, but people as young as their 40s and 50s can begin to show signs.
As the disease progresses, individuals lose their ability to carry on a conversation and respond to their environment. Statistics show those with Alzheimer’s live an average of eight years after their symptoms become noticeable to others, though some may live between four and 20 years after symptoms worsen.
Risk factors
Age is the biggest risk factor when considering the possibility of you or your loved ones developing Alzheimer’s disease. Once you reach the age of 65, the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s doubles every five years; after the age of 80, risk increases by 50 percent.
Other risk factors include a family history of the disease. The more direct family members who are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, the more likely you or your family members are to develop the illness. Some people also carry certain genes in their DNA that makes them predisposed to a future diagnosis. Additional factors currently being researched include the effects of head trauma and heart health, as well as an increased prevalence among those who are of Latino and African American descent.
Recognizing the signs of Alzheimer’s
Many conditions and factors can cause memory loss as we age. When you gather your family this holiday season, be sure to watch for these 10 signs if you are worried about an aging family member.
- Memory loss that affects every day life – appointments, repeating the same question or remembering important dates
- Challenges in planning or solving problems – trouble with simple tasks or situations like paying bills or following a recipe
- Difficulty completing familiar tasks – asking for help with simple tasks, such as driving to well-known location or using a household machine they are accustomed to using
- Confusion with passage of time – may become confused about the time of year, how much time has passed since a specific event or how they ended up in their current location
- Trouble with vision or spatial relationships – vision loss that is apparent with tasks such as reading or judging colors, as well as judging distances
- Problems with speaking or writing – new issues with speaking, following a conversation or struggles with finding the correct word may develop
- Losing items or the ability to retrace one’s steps – leaving items out of their normal place and the inability to retrace their steps to find misplaced items
- Decreased or poor judgment – poor decisions made, usually regarding money; may be too trusting and lack discretion
- Withdrawal from hobbies, social situations, work or sports – due to embarrassment or frustration, may begin to avoid activities they previously enjoyed
- Changes in mood and personality – developing feelings of confusion, suspicion, depression, fear or anxiety, especially when they leave their comfort zone
For more information on the signs and what is typical behavior if you suspect someone may have Alzheimer’s disease, reference this list of symptoms and schedule a visit with your family member’s primary care doctor.