Thursday, April 7, 2016

F for Facts (A to Z Challenge)

I had an urge to write today about families of those affected by Alzheimer's but I decided to leave this topic for later. So let's see some facts. Did you know that:

The number of Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease is growing – and growing fast. (For Canadian facts click here. I like to use quick method: we are about 10 times smaller so the numbers should be10 times smaller too).
  • Today, 5.3 million Americans are living with  Alzheimer’s disease, including an estimated 200,000 under the age of 65. By 2050, up to 16 million will have the disease.
  • Nearly two-thirds of those with Alzheimer’s disease – 3.2 million – are women.
  • Within the next 10 years, 19 states will see a 40 percent or greater growth in the number of people with Alzheimer’s.
  • Someone in the United States develops Alzheimer’s every 67 seconds. In 2050, someone in the United States will develop the disease every 33 seconds. 
Most people living with Alzheimer’s are not aware of their diagnosis – or have not been diagnosed at all. 
  • Less than half (45 percent) of seniors diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or their caregivers are aware of the diagnosis, compared with 90 percent or more of those diagnosed with cancer and cardiovascular disease.
  • Among individuals diagnosed with the disease, only 33 percent are aware they have it.
  • Among all people living with Alzheimer’s disease, only about half have ever been diagnosed.

Alzheimer’s is not just memory loss - Alzheimer’s kills.
  • Alzheimer’s disease is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States and the 5th leading cause of death for those aged 65 and older.
  • In 2013, over 84,000 Americans officially died from Alzheimer’s;in 2015,an estimated 700,000 people will die with Alzheimer’s – meaning they will die after having developed the disease.
  • Deaths from Alzheimer’s increased 71 percent from 2000 to 2013, while deaths from other major diseases (including heart disease, stroke, breast and prostate cancer, and HIV/AIDS) decreased.
  • Alzheimer’s is the only cause of death among the top 10 in America that cannot be prevented, cured, or even slowed
So long my friends,
Evalina

5 comments:

  1. Facts are useful and good to know, but goodness that's depressing! However, if we don't face them we'll never work hard at fixing it.

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  2. My step-dad died of Alzheimer's although it wasn't recorded as that, but that's what killed him in reality. It is a horrible, horrible condition and one I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. Thankfully, my step-dad didn't know how it changed him as he would have been horrified to know how he behaved sometimes; he was such a private person. I hope they find a cure for it sooner rather than later.

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  3. Interesting facts and figures. I guess for every disease we can cure another one will take the top spot.
    At least some Alzheimers' sufferers can lead relatively peaceful lives with the right care. That is why it is so vital to get the care package right.

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  4. C'est très urgent de trouver un bon medicament pour Alzheimer

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  5. Wow that's a pretty shocking number! I didn't realize Alzheimer's could actually cause death but it's great information to have!

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