Alzheimer’s, Dementia Costs Top $604 Billion

Dementia is significantly affecting every health and social care system in the world.

About 35 million people worldwide have dementia, and that figure is expected to double every 20 years, due to longer lifespans and an aging population.
By the time we reach 85 years old, we have about a 50 percent chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
The expense of taking care of an Alzheimer’s patient is highest in the United States, coming in at about $48,000.
Alzheimer’s disease will cost the world more than $604 billion this year.

The World Alzheimer’s Report 2010, from Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI), and reported on by CNN, was compiled from data collected around the world, and estimates from developing countries in Africa, Latin America, and Asia.

The $604 billion figure reflects the costs of medical care and the services provided by family members.

The ADI says many governments are unprepared for the challenges of caring for a population with such large numbers of dementia patients, and urge governments to recognize dementia as a health priority and invest in prevention and planning for the care of patients.

Dementia
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia affecting cognitive ability, memory, behavior, and the ability to perform common tasks. Although some people show symptoms before age 65, it primarily affects older people.

Dementia also has a tremendous impact on family members and friends — emotionally, socially, and financially. The financial impact on the family is difficult to quantify and is likely insufficiently reported.

People with dementia require a wide range of care, from assistance with daily living and personal care to around the clock supervision.

You can help! From The Petition Site
We need to address this growing human, social and economic burden with a comprehensive strategy. The National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA) or S. 3036/H.R. 4689 would call for the creation of a national plan to solve the Alzheimer’s crisis.

The act will create a National Alzheimer’s Project Office and inter-agency Advisory Council to lead a campaign within the federal government to overcome the disease.

Sign the petition: Ask Your Reps to Support the National Alzheimer’s Project Act

Related Reading

You can read the complete ADI report, or just a summary, on The Alzheimer’s Association website
Care2 Healthy & Green Living: Alzheimer’s

Image used under Creative Commons License via Flickr with thanks to eflon

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

jane r.

11:27PM PDT on Sep 30, 2010

This is a terrible disease to witness how much worse it must be to feel in coming on and be total unable to stop it.
Check the ingredients in Antacids and other medications. Aluminum is definitely a major contributor to both Dementia and Alzheimers.

send a green star

11:23PM PDT on Sep 30, 2010

Signed. This is a horrible disease to witness how much worse it must be to feel it coming on and not be able to stop it.
Check antacids and other medications for their ingredients.
I agree that aluminum is a major contributor to Dementia and Alzheimers.

Blue R.

10:48AM PDT on Sep 28, 2010

treat them as patients and not residents and then your talking, until then its just one massive swindle.

Bob D.

6:32AM PDT on Sep 24, 2010

The Alzheimers Reading Room has clear, concise, usable news, research, insight and advice for the entire Alzheimers community.

The website focuses on those suffering from Alzheimers disease and Dementia, Alzheimers caregivers, and the art of Alzheimers caregiving.

100 Million people have been touched by Alzheimer's disease, and 35 million are worried about Alzheimer's.

http://www.alzheimersreadingroom.com/2010/02/about-alzheimers-reading-room.html

Chloe M.

9:11AM PDT on Sep 23, 2010

I just read about Alzheimer's for one of my nursing classes. It's a shame that it can;t be diagnosed except upon autopsy. If there was a form of earlier detection, at least there is a chance that they won't progress to such a late stage, although there still isn't a cure for it. My aunt has Alzheimer's as well and it is heart-breaking to see someone who had so much personality decline to a point where you don't even recognize them anymore. She is so down, both mentally and physically. I do hope something can be done to eradicate this and many other diseases.

Denise T.

8:02PM PDT on Sep 22, 2010

I live in India where the concept of puttin your aged parents into a care giving facility does not really exist. It's catching on, there are a few such places, but on the whole people take care of their parents till death.
I really do think that lonliness and feeling of rejection are the key players in dementia and Alzehimer's. One hardly ever hears of these illnesses here, there are of course the stray cases, but on the whole, the elderly are surrounded by their chldr

Helen P.

4:41PM PDT on Sep 22, 2010

I watched my father suffer from Alzheimer's dementia for about 8 years before his death. It's a cruel blow. I hope that medical science learns how to halt the disease before it hits the baby boomers, otherwise we're in big trouble.

Marilyn L.

3:51PM PDT on Sep 22, 2010

signed thank you

David R.

3:37PM PDT on Sep 22, 2010

This year, World Alzheimerâ€™s Day arrives with some good news in the ongoing fight against this terrible disease. The recent Texas Alzheimerâ€™s Research Consortium study by Drs. Oâ€™Bryant, Xiao et al. provides further important evidence of the role of inflammation in the causation of Alzheimerâ€™s disease. See http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20837851 As this article suggests, and which is also supported by research at http://nrimed.com/pub.html , their findings make a strong case for continued study of targeted anti-inflammatory therapies for AD.

Charlene R.

1:49PM PDT on Sep 22, 2010

My grandmother did have Alzheimer's disease and was a great user of aluminum foil. I rarely, if ever use it and NEVER, EVER use it near foods containing acid, especially tomatoes.

A dentist friend of mine, truly, believes that amalgam fillings, the silver fillings most of us have, are also, a contributor to Alzheimer's. I no longer allow a dentist to use them as fillings.

Acknowledging the considerable cost of treating Alzheimer's patients, my guess is, there will be a big push for stem cell research from pharmaceutical companies. Now, what will the conservatives say about that, if Big Business pushes for it.