The latest facts and figures from the Alzheimer’s Association highlights the growth of Alzheimer&#8217;s disease, estimating a dramatic increase in incidence, or new cases of the disease, by 2050 across the United States.<img src="https://img.prod.aplaceformom.com/main/uploads/alz/2019/07/Alzheimers-Is-on-the-Rise-in-These-States-300x158.jpg" alt="Alzheimer&#039;s Is on the Rise in These States" width="300" height="158" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-68206" srcset="https://img.dev.aplaceformom.com/main/uploads/alz/2019/07/Alzheimers-Is-on-the-Rise-in-These-States-300x158.jpg 300w, https://img.dev.aplaceformom.com/main/uploads/alz/2019/07/Alzheimers-Is-on-the-Rise-in-These-States-768x404.jpg 768w, https://img.dev.aplaceformom.com/main/uploads/alz/2019/07/Alzheimers-Is-on-the-Rise-in-These-States.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Learn more about their report and which U.S. states Alzheimer&#8217;s is on the rise in.
<h2>Alzheimer’s Is on the Rise in Every State</h2>
Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia and is expected to reach epidemic proportions across the globe, if no cure is found. A report detailing the latest <a href="https://www.alz.org/documents_custom/2017-facts-and-figures.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.alz.org/documents_custom/2017-facts-and-figures.pdf">facts and figures about Alzheimer’s from the Alzheimer’s Association</a> found that 10% of adults in the U.S. over the age of 65 have Alzheimer’s.
<blockquote>The report estimates that Alzheimer’s will rise by 14% in all 50 states over the next eight years.</blockquote>
The Alzheimer’s Association notes that “between 2017 and 2025 every state across the country is expected to <a href="https://www.alzheimers.net/dementia-prevalence-falling-alzheimers-death-rate-rising/">experience an increase</a> of at least 14% in the number of people with Alzheimer’s due to increases in the population age 65 and older. The West and Southeast are expected to experience the largest percentage increases in people with Alzheimer’s between 2017 and 2025. These increases will have a marked impact on states’ health care systems, as well as the Medicaid program, which covers the costs of long-term care and support for some older residents with dementia.”
Noting that age is the biggest risk factor for Alzheimer’s, states with a larger senior population would be expected to have a higher rate of Alzheimer’s than younger states. Additionally, some socioeconomic factors are also associated with Alzheimer’s.
The states expected to have the biggest increase in Alzheimer’s diagnoses are:
<ol>
<li>Alaska: Alaska has the lowest number of adults over the age of 65 – less than 10% of Alaska’s population. 10% of seniors in Alaska have Alzheimer’s – the nation’s lowest percentage. However, Alzheimer’s is expected to increase by 54.9% by 2025 in the state of Alaska leading Medicaid costs for treating Alzheimer’s to increase by 82.5%.</li>
<li>Arizona: 16.4% of Arizona’s population is over the age of 65 and 11.6% of these seniors have Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s is expected to increase by 53.8% by 2025 in the state. Last year, Alzheimer’s was the 8th leading cause of death among Arizona residents.</li>
<li>Nevada: Alzheimer’s is expected to grow 48.8% between 2018 and 2025 in Nevada. 14.6% of their population is over the age of 65 and 10.2% of adults over the age of 65 currently have Alzheimer’ – one of the nation’s lowest percentages. This number is still expected to increase at an alarming rate to nearly 50%.</li>
</ol>
<h2>Preparing for a Future with Alzheimer’s</h2>
A large part of the estimated jump in Alzheimer’s is due to the baby boomer generation reaching their senior years and increased longevity. The Alzheimer’s Association report states, “The number of Americans surviving into their 80s, 90s and beyond is expected to grow dramatically due to medical advances, as well as social and environmental conditions. Additionally, a large segment of the American population — the baby boom generation — has begun to reach age 65 and older, ages when the risk for Alzheimer’s and other dementias is elevated. By 2030, the segment of the U.S. population age 65 and older will increase substantially, and the projected 74 million older Americans will make up over 20% of the total population (up from 14% in 2012). As the number of older Americans grows rapidly, so too will <a href="https://www.alzheimers.net/updating-guidelines-for-alzheimers/">the numbers of new and existing cases of Alzheimer’s and dementia</a>.”
<blockquote>On a global scale, Alzheimer’s is growing at a rate of epidemic proportions. In 2010, there was an estimated 454,000 new cases of Alzheimer’s. It’s estimated that by 2030, that number will increase by 35% to 615,000 and by 110% to 959,000 in 2050.</blockquote>
For more information on the latest <a href="https://www.alzheimers.net/resources/types-of-dementia/">facts and figures of Alzheimer’s</a>, check out the full report from the <a href="https://www.alz.org/documents_custom/2017-facts-and-figures.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.alz.org/documents_custom/2017-facts-and-figures.pdf">Alzheimer’s Association</a>.
Is your state expected to see one of the biggest increases in Alzheimer&#8217;s? How will this affect you and your family? We&#8217;d like to hear your stories in the comments below.
Related Articles:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.alzheimers.net/dementia-prevalence-falling-alzheimers-death-rate-rising/">Dementia Prevalence Is Falling, So Why Is the Alzheimer’s Death Rate Rising?</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.alzheimers.net/resources/types-of-dementia/">Different Types of Dementia</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.alzheimers.net/updating-guidelines-for-alzheimers/">Updating U.S. Guidelines for Alzheimer’s</a></li>
</ul>

Alzheimer's Is on the Rise in These States

The latest facts and figures from the Alzheimer’s Association highlights the growth of Alzheimer’s disease, estimating a dramatic increase in incidence, or new cases of the disease, by 2050 across the United States. Learn more about their report and which U.S. states Alzheimer’s is on the rise in. Alzheimer’s Is on the Rise in Every State […]

The Population Reference Bureau says the share of older adults with dementia in the U.S. <a href="http://www.prb.org/pdf17/TRA%20Alzheimers%20and%20Dementia.pdf">dropped 24%</a> from 2000-2012. Yet the Centers for Disease Control says Alzheimer&#8217;s deaths <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2017/p0525-alzheimer-deaths.html">rose 55%</a> from 1999-2014, and that the number of people with Alzheimer&#8217;s will quadruple by 2050. How can all three numbers be true?<img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-62435" src="https://img.prod.aplaceformom.com/main/uploads/alz/2017/08/dementia-prevalence-300x158.jpg" alt="Dementia Prevalence Is Falling, So Why Is the Alzheimer's Death Rate Rising?" width="300" height="158" srcset="https://img.dev.aplaceformom.com/main/uploads/alz/2017/08/dementia-prevalence-300x158.jpg 300w, https://img.dev.aplaceformom.com/main/uploads/alz/2017/08/dementia-prevalence-1024x538.jpg 1024w, https://img.dev.aplaceformom.com/main/uploads/alz/2017/08/dementia-prevalence-768x403.jpg 768w, https://img.dev.aplaceformom.com/main/uploads/alz/2017/08/dementia-prevalence.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Don&#8217;t give up on the experts. We explain why this all makes perfect sense.
<h2>The Ways Dementia Disease Burden Can Rise and Fall</h2>
To understand Alzheimer&#8217;s disease and dementia statistics, you need to understand the ways that the number of people with a disease can rise or fall. We describe each one and how it could explain current trends.
<h3>If people start surviving longer with dementia, numbers will rise.</h3>
If better treatment helps people survive longer with Alzheimer&#8217;s, then more people will be counted with the disease. On the other hand, if something causes Alzheimer&#8217;s survivorship to fall, people with the disease will die earlier and numbers will drop over time. A <a href="https://alzres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13195-016-0188-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">recent review</a> of dementia studies since 1980 suggests dementia patients are indeed surviving longer and longer.
<hr />
A recent review of dementia studies since 1980 suggests dementia patients are surviving longer and longer, causing the population affected to rise.
<hr />
<h3>If more people survive other medical conditions, more will live long enough to get dementia.</h3>
Degenerative diseases like Alzheimer&#8217;s, which affect mainly older people, have become major killers over time because fewer people die earlier in life from deadly infectious diseases like measles or smallpox. Something similar has happened more recently: medical innovations <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4755414/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">increase survival</a> among heart disease and stroke patients. That leaves more people living to the oldest ages, when the risk of dementia rises dramatically.
<hr />
Because of improved survival from heart disease and stroke, more people survive long enough to be at greater risk for dementia.
<hr />
<h3>If more people who have dementia get diagnosed, the count will rise.</h3>
You can&#8217;t be counted as having a disease if that disease has not been diagnosed by a knowledgeable medical professional. Disease definitions change over time as medical understanding evolves and diagnosis methods improve. Patients can also change their behaviors in ways that affect the likelihood of diagnosis.
<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2017/p0525-alzheimer-deaths.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">According to the CDC</a>, improved diagnosis could be one reason for rising Alzheimer&#8217;s disease mortality. Dr. Kenneth Langa, Professor of Medicine at University of Michigan, also notes:
<blockquote>[The] more important explanation [for rising Alzheimer&#8217;s mortality] is that the coding of AD [Alzheimer&#8217;s disease] / dementia on death certificates is changing over time; in other words, given the same level of cognitive impairment now compared to 20 years ago, a person is more likely to have their AD / dementia coded on their death certificate because of greater recognition of the condition by patients and health care providers. So many researchers view the increase in AD mortality rate, as partly (perhaps mainly) due to a change in coding practices rather than a &#8220;real&#8221; change in the number of people dying with AD.
Dr. Kenneth Langa, Cyrus Sturgis Professor of Medicine at University of Michigan</blockquote>
<hr />
Improved Alzheimer&#8217;s diagnosis both before and after death has increased both the number of people counted as affected, and the number of deaths attributed to Alzheimer&#8217;s.
<hr />
<h3>If the factors that cause Alzheimer&#8217;s become more prevalent, Alzheimer&#8217;s can become more prevalent.</h3>
Many assume that if a disease is becoming more common, it must be because whatever external factors that cause it are becoming a bigger problem. But remember all the other possible explanations before you jump to conclusions.
Besides, if anything, dementia risk factors have diminished over time. According to the Population Reference Bureau, more people reach higher levels of education now, which could directly affect brain development in a way that protects against dementia.
Another protection against dementia risk is more aggressive treatment of risks for heart disease and diabetes. Having heart disease and diabetes is associated with higher risk of Alzheimer&#8217;s. Protecting against one could protect against the other.
<hr />
Improved education and more aggressive treatment of heart disease and diabetes risk factors may reduce the number of dementia cases over time.
<hr />
Now that you understand how the number of people with dementia can rise and fall, let&#8217;s get back to the original questions.
<h2>Why Dementia Prevalence Can Fall But Alzheimer&#8217;s Numbers Will Quadruple</h2>
The prevalence of a disease is the share of the population in a particular place and time who has that disease. Disease prevalence is not the number of people who have that disease.
Now that you know what prevalence is, here&#8217;s the answer to the question, step by step:
<ol>
<li>In the year 2000, dementia prevalence among older adults in the United States was about 12%. There were about 31.2 million older adults. That means about 3.6 million people had dementia.</li>
<li>Dementia prevalence in 2012 was only about 9%, but the population of older adults had climbed to about 43.1 million. So even though dementia prevalence declined, the number of people with dementia grew to 3.8 million.</li>
<li>The number of people 65 and older will double by 2050.The number 85 and older will more than triple. Older people are the main risk group for Alzheimer&#8217;s, thus for Alzheimer&#8217;s death.</li>
<li>Add in greater survival rates among dementia patients and better diagnosis, and it seems more plausible that the number of people with Alzheimer&#8217;s could quadruple even though the prevalence of dementia is dropping.</li>
</ol>
<h2>Why Dementia Prevalence Can Fall While Alzheimer&#8217;s Death Rate Rises</h2>
Mortality (or the death rate) is the number of deaths that occur out of the average number of people in a population. Here&#8217;s how Alzheimer&#8217;s mortality can rise even as dementia prevalence falls.
<ul>
<li>Older people today are less likely to get dementia than older people in previous years.</li>
<li>Younger people today are also less likely to get dementia than younger people in previous years.</li>
<li>Still, you&#8217;re more likely to get dementia if you&#8217;re old and the older population is growing faster than the younger population.</li>
<li>So even though the risk of getting dementia is dropping in each age group, the age groups more likely to get dementia are growing in number at an unprecedented rate.</li>
<li>Due to improved diagnosis rates, better cause-of-death determination, better dementia prognosis and better treatment of other diseases, the number of people that die from Alzheimer&#8217;s is rising at the same time the older population is growing.</li>
</ul>
<h2>The Takeaway</h2>
We hope this explainer helps you better understand dementia and Alzheimer&#8217;s statistics. If you remember just four things, here they are:
<ol>
<li>The number of people who have dementia can rise for a variety of reasons, not just because the causes of that disease are becoming a bigger problem.</li>
<li>It&#8217;s totally possible for dementia prevalence to drop even as Alzheimer&#8217;s mortality rises.</li>
<li>The more sensational a headline about dementia or Alzheimer&#8217;s, the more you should be skeptical.</li>
<li>The CDC, the Census Bureau and epidemiologists aren&#8217;t just making the numbers up as they go along.</li>
</ol>

Dementia Prevalence Is Falling, So Why Is the Alzheimer's Death Rate Rising?

The Population Reference Bureau says the share of older adults with dementia in the U.S. dropped 24% from 2000-2012. Yet the Centers for Disease Control says Alzheimer’s deaths rose 55% from 1999-2014, and that the number of people with Alzheimer’s will quadruple by 2050. How can all three numbers be true? Don’t give up on the experts. We explain […]

While Alzheimer&#8217;s research has come so far in a few short years, there is still a long way to go. With studies focused on finding potential disease prevention methods and discovering new links to Alzheimer&#8217;s, researchers are hopeful that a treatment is on the horizon. Yet, the disease remains to be a leading cause of death with no treatment and no cure.<img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-36360" src="https://img.prod.aplaceformom.com/main/uploads/alz/2016/01/without-a-cure-alzheimers-could-bankrupt-medicare-300x192.jpg" alt="Without a Cure, Alzheimer's Could Bankrupt Medicare" width="300" height="192" srcset="https://img.dev.aplaceformom.com/main/uploads/alz/2016/01/without-a-cure-alzheimers-could-bankrupt-medicare-300x192.jpg 300w, https://img.dev.aplaceformom.com/main/uploads/alz/2016/01/without-a-cure-alzheimers-could-bankrupt-medicare.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Threatening to reach epidemic proportions and potentially bankrupt Medicare, researchers are calling for increased federal funding to wage war on Alzheimer&#8217;s.
<h2>A Closer Look at How Alzheimer&#8217;s Could Bankrupt Medicare</h2>
While researchers are hopeful that 2016 will bring further advancements in Alzheimer&#8217;s research, the current <a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/health/aging/alzheimers-disease-track-bankrupt-medicare-n460651" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Alzheimer&#8217;s stats</a> are tragic, both emotionally and financially devastating.
The latest statistics surrounding the economics of the disease give a glimpse into the catastrophic nature of the Alzheimer&#8217;s:
<ul>
<li>Alzheimer&#8217;s is the only cause of death among the top 10 in the United States that can not be cured, prevented or slowed</li>
<li>The total cost to the U.S. economy of caring for people with Alzheimer&#8217;s is $226 billion, half of which Medicare covers</li>
<li>If Alzheimer&#8217;s is not treated or slowed, it will cost the U.S. economy over $1 trillion by 2050 with the part covered by Medicare rising to $589 billion</li>
<li>For family caregivers, Alzheimer&#8217;s costs an average of $287,038 to provide care for the last five years of a person&#8217;s life</li>
</ul>
The cost of caring for someone with Alzheimer&#8217;s is much higher than someone who is fighting cancer or heart disease, other top causes of death in the U.S. This is because much of the care required at the end of a person&#8217;s life with Alzheimer&#8217;s is assistance with activities of daily living (i.e. bathing, dressing, eating, grooming) and that kind of care is not covered by insurance.
<blockquote>As the disease progresses and care costs continue to grow, Alzheimer&#8217;s could bankrupt Medicare, as it covers about half of the direct costs of caring for people with the disease.</blockquote>
<h2>Closing the Funding Gap</h2>
Researchers and experts agree that federal funding for Alzheimer&#8217;s needs to increase, and quickly. Federal funding is currently at just under $1 billion, drastically less than the $3 billion spent on HIV/AIDS research or $5 billion spent on cancer.
Director of the Memory and Aging Center at the University of California, San Francisco, Dr. Bruce Miller, states:
&#8220;This is clearly the underfunded and understudied problem of the 21st century. We&#8217;ve made a lot of progress in therapies around heart disease, cancer and stroke, and we need to move faster in Alzheimer&#8217;s research. If we can&#8217;t find better therapies for an aging brain, as a society we will dramatically suffer.&#8221;
Current research methods are focused on preventing or stopping the progression of Alzheimer&#8217;s before symptoms occur. Slowing or delaying the onset of Alzheimer&#8217;s by just five years would decrease Medicare spending by 50% and bring new, refreshing hope to a weary population of caregivers.
What do you think can or should be done to wage a war on Alzheimer&#8217;s disease? Share your suggestions with us in the comments below.
Related Articles:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.alzheimers.net/8-5-15-landmark-increase-in-alzheimers-funding/">Senate Approves Landmark Increase in Alzheimer&#8217;s Research Funding</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.alzheimers.net/2014-04-15/challenges-in-funding-drug-research/">The Challenges in Securing Funding for Alzheimer&#8217;s Drug Research</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.alzheimers.net/2013-09-25/alzheimers-research-funding/">The Urgent Need for Alzheimer&#8217;s Research Funding</a></li>
</ul>

Without a Cure, Alzheimer's Could Bankrupt Medicare

While Alzheimer’s research has come so far in a few short years, there is still a long way to go. With studies focused on finding potential disease prevention methods and discovering new links to Alzheimer’s, researchers are hopeful that a treatment is on the horizon. Yet, the disease remains to be a leading cause of death with […]

A recent report from the NFL and the NFL Players&#8217; Association disclosed that NFL players are at least twice as likely to develop Alzheimer&#8217;s disease and dementia than the general population.
<img class="alignright size-full wp-image-28260" src="https://img.prod.aplaceformom.com/main/uploads/alz/2014/09/nfl-players-are-at-increased-risk-for-alzheimers.jpg" alt="NFL Players Are at Increased Risk for Alzheimer's" width="300" height="217" />
Learn why and what this means for the affected players.
<h2>Higher Rate of Brain Conditions</h2>
As part of an ongoing concussion lawsuit in the NFL, the NFL Players&#8217; Association commissioned the Analysis Research and Planning Corporation, an actuarial firm, to conduct a report that would analyze <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/dandiamond/2014/09/12/nfl-players-have-30-chance-of-alzheimers-or-dementia-new-nfl-concussion-data-suggests/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">the effects of playing in the NFL on brain health</a>. The firm found that:
<ul>
<li>Almost 14% of all former NFL players will be diagnosed with Alzheimer&#8217;s</li>
<li>Another 14% of players will develop moderate dementia</li>
<li>The risk of developing early-onset Alzheimer&#8217;s, ALS, Parkinson&#8217;s, or dementia is twice as high as the general public</li>
<li>Former players will be <a href="http://bigstory.ap.org/article/estimate-3-10-nfl-retirees-face-cognitive-woes" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">diagnosed at &#8220;notably younger ages&#8221;</a></li>
</ul>
Lead player lawyers Christopher Seeger and Sol Weiss released a statement saying: 
<blockquote>&#8220;This report paints a startling picture of how prevalent neurocognitive diseases are among retired NFL players.&#8221;</blockquote>
<h2>Settlement for Former Players</h2>
The league and the players&#8217; association were able to reach a settlement of $675 million for treatment of former players, $75 million for neurological testing, $5 million for public notice, and an additional $10 million for research. The settlement will not cover current players, but the League has also agreed to pay more over time if needed.
<a style="line-height: 1.6" href="http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/estimate-10-nfl-retirees-face-cognitive-woes-25462984" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Critics of the settlement</a> note that awards for those with Alzheimer&#8217;s and dementia are cut by 75% if the player has suffered a stroke. They also point out that the settlement plan does not include any awards to anyone diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a neurodegenerative brain disease diagnosed only after death, after July 7, 2014. 
Paul Anderson, a lawyer involved in the lawsuit, criticized the settlement saying, &#8220;The biggest thing that jumps out is the number of deceased players that won&#8217;t be compensated — especially when reviewed under the lens of what Dr. McKee says that it&#8217;s quite possible that every NFL player has CTE.&#8221; 
What do you think about NFL players being twice as likely to develop Alzheimer&#8217;s and dementia? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Related Articles:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.alzheimers.net/2013-10-10/football-brain-trauma/">The Dark Side of Football: Brain Injuries</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.alzheimers.net/2014-04-17/alzheimers-health-ailments/">6 Health Ailments that Accompany Alzheimer&#8217;s</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.alzheimers.net/2014-06-11/is-alzheimers-genetic/">Is Alzheimer&#8217;s Genetic?</a></li>
</ul>

NFL Players Are at Increased Risk for Alzheimer's

A recent report from the NFL and the NFL Players’ Association disclosed that NFL players are at least twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease and dementia than the general population. Learn why and what this means for the affected players. Higher Rate of Brain Conditions As part of an ongoing concussion lawsuit in the […]

There are more than 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer&#8217;s and that number is expected to triple by 2050. We may never know the full economic and physical effects that Alzheimer&#8217;s has on our nation. However, a new report from the Alzheimer&#8217;s Association and The Shriver Report is giving us greater insight into the effects of the fatal disease and shows us just how burdensome it can be, especially on women.
<img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-5018" alt="Women's Lifetime Risk for Developing Alzheimer's is Higher Than Men's" src="https://img.prod.aplaceformom.com/main/uploads/alz/2014/03/womens-lifetime-risk-for-developing-alzheimers-is-higher-than-mens-300x218.jpg" width="300" height="217" srcset="https://img.dev.aplaceformom.com/main/uploads/alz/2014/03/womens-lifetime-risk-for-developing-alzheimers-is-higher-than-mens-300x218.jpg 300w, https://img.dev.aplaceformom.com/main/uploads/alz/2014/03/womens-lifetime-risk-for-developing-alzheimers-is-higher-than-mens.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<h2>Startling Statistics for Women and Alzheimer&#8217;s Disease</h2>
A new report from the <a href="http://www.alz.org/news_and_events_women_in_their_60s.asp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Alzheimer&#8217;s Association </a>has found that women are at a higher risk for developing Alzheimer&#8217;s than men. Angela Geiger, chief strategy officer for the Alzheimer&#8217;s Association commented on the report saying,
<blockquote>&#8220;Through our role in the development of The Shriver Report: A Woman&#8217;s Nation Takes on Alzheimer&#8217;s in 2010, in conjunction with Maria Shriver, we know that women are the epicenter of Alzheimer&#8217;s disease, representing a majority of both people with the disease and Alzheimer&#8217;s caregivers. Alzheimer&#8217;s Association Facts and Figures examines the impact of this unbalanced burden.&#8221;</blockquote>
The numbers are shocking:
<ul>
<li> Out of the 5 million people living with Alzheimer&#8217;s in the United States, 3.2 million are women.</li>
<li>1 out of 6 women over the age of 60 will develop Alzheimer&#8217;s, compared to 1 out of 11 men.</li>
<li>Women in their 60s are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer&#8217;s than they are to develop breast cancer.</li>
</ul>
The main reason that women are more likely to develop the neurological disease is simply that women live longer than men and that age is still the number one risk factor for developing Alzheimer&#8217;s. From that perspective, we are all at risk for Alzheimer&#8217;s. As Angela Geiger says,
<blockquote>&#8220;Age is the greatest risk factor for Alzheimer&#8217;s, and America is aging. As a nation, we must band together to protect our greatest asset, our brains.&#8221;</blockquote>
<h2>Bearing the Burden of Alzheimer&#8217;s</h2>
Not only are women facing the brunt of the disease from a patient standpoint, women are also bearing the burden of caregiving. There are 2.5 times as many women than men providing 24 hour care for someone living with Alzheimer&#8217;s. 17% of female caregivers who feel isolated also feel depressed, compared to 2% of men.
But, the burden is not just emotional. It is also financial:
<ul>
<li>20% of women exchanged their full time job for a part time job to act as a caregiver</li>
<li>18% of women took a leave of absence of work to provide caregiving</li>
<li>11% of women left work entirely</li>
<li>10% of women lost job benefits due to caregiving responsibilities</li>
</ul>
<h2>Changing the Statistics</h2>
Given this information and knowing that Alzheimer&#8217;s is still one of the most misunderstood and underreported diseases, we must take action. The Alzheimer&#8217;s Association has launched a national initiative that brings attention to the plight of women against Alzheimer&#8217;s. Called &#8220;<a style="line-height: 1.5em;" href="http://mybrain.alz.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">My Brain</a>,&#8221; the initiative strives to include 1 million women and serve as a resource for female caregivers and patients.
To learn more about the report and the impact Alzheimer&#8217;s has on women, see Maria Shriver on the Today Show.
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Were you surprised to hear that more women are effected by Alzheimer&#8217;s than men? Let us know how you reacted in the comments below.

Women’s Lifetime Risk for Developing Alzheimer’s is Higher Than Men’s

There are more than 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s and that number is expected to triple by 2050. We may never know the full economic and physical effects that Alzheimer’s has on our nation. However, a new report from the Alzheimer’s Association and The Shriver Report is giving us greater insight into the effects […]

There is admittedly a lot we don&#8217;t know about Alzheimer&#8217;s. 100 years after its discovery, we still don&#8217;t know exactly what causes this neurodegenerative disease and we do not have a cure. However, it is important not to lose sight of how far we have come since Dr. Alois Alzheimer noted the  unique symptoms in 1906.<img src="https://img.prod.aplaceformom.com/main/uploads/alz/2019/07/Major-Milestones-History-of-Alzheimers-300x200.jpg" alt="Major Milestones: History of Alzheimer&#039;s" width="300" height="200" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-67834" srcset="https://img.dev.aplaceformom.com/main/uploads/alz/2019/07/Major-Milestones-History-of-Alzheimers-300x200.jpg 300w, https://img.dev.aplaceformom.com/main/uploads/alz/2019/07/Major-Milestones-History-of-Alzheimers-768x512.jpg 768w, https://img.dev.aplaceformom.com/main/uploads/alz/2019/07/Major-Milestones-History-of-Alzheimers.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
1906: Alzheimer&#8217;s Disease is <a href="https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/research_progress/milestones" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">first described</a> by Dr. Alois Alzheimer in his patient known only as Auguste D. The patient experienced memory loss, paranoia, and psychological changes. Dr. Alzheimer noted in the autopsy that there was shrinkage in and around nerve cells in her brain.
1931: The electron microscope is invented by Max Knoll and Ernst Ruska, allowing magnification up to 1 million times. This invention allowed scientists to study brain cells with greater detail.
1968: Cognitive measurement scales are created which allows researchers to measure impairment and estimate the volume of damaged brain tissue.
1974: Congress establishes the <a href="https://www.nia.nih.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">National Institute on Aging</a> (NIA). To this day, the NIA supports Alzheimer&#8217;s research.
1983: November of 1983 was declared the first National Alzheimer&#8217;s Disease Month indicating a greater awareness of the disease.
1984: The NIA begins to fund Alzheimer&#8217;s Disease Centers and establishes a nationwide network for Alzheimer&#8217;s research.
1993: The Food &amp; Drug Administration (FDA) approves the <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/alzheimers-history" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">first Alzheimer&#8217;s drug</a>, Cognex. The drug targets memory loss and dementia symptoms. Today, there are a total of five drugs approved to treat Alzheimer&#8217;s.
1994: Former President of the United States Ronald Reagan announces that he has been diagnosed with Alzheimer&#8217;s Disease. This leads to greater awareness about the disease.
2003: The NIA begins a National Alzheimer&#8217;s Disease Genetic Study to hopefully identify risk genes for the disease.
2010: Alzheimer&#8217;s becomes the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.
2011: President Barack Obama signs the National Alzheimer&#8217;s Project Act which provides a national framework to support and fund Alzheimer&#8217;s research.
2013: <a href="https://www.alzheimers.net/2013-12-11/alzheimers-global-epidemic-by-2050/">The G8 Dementia Summit</a> in the United Kingdom launches an international effort to fight Alzheimer&#8217;s and find a cure by 2025.
We still have a lot of work ahead of us in the fight against Alzheimer&#8217;s. It&#8217;s important to reflect on the past 100 years as we look ahead to the next 100 years and continue to fund and support research initiatives.
Related Articles 
<a href="https://www.alzheimers.net/2013-12-11/alzheimers-global-epidemic-by-2050/" target="_self" rel="noopener noreferrer">Alzheimer&#8217;s Will be a Global Epidemic by 2050</a> 
<a href="https://www.alzheimers.net/2013-10-30/11-risk-genes-discovered/" target="_self" rel="noopener noreferrer">New Discovery: 11 &#8216;Risk Genes&#8217; for Alzheimer&#8217;s</a> 
<a href="https://www.alzheimers.net/2013-09-25/alzheimers-research-funding/" target="_self" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Urgent Need for Alzheimer&#8217;s Research Funding</a>

History of Alzheimer's: Major Milestones

There is admittedly a lot we don’t know about Alzheimer’s. 100 years after its discovery, we still don’t know exactly what causes this neurodegenerative disease and we do not have a cure. However, it is important not to lose sight of how far we have come since Dr. Alois Alzheimer noted the  unique symptoms in […]

A new report titled, &#8220;Dementia: a public health priority&#8221; suggests that the number of people living with dementia will triple by 2050. The report was developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Alzheimer&#8217;s Disease International to raise awareness of dementia and advocate for action on an international level. The upcoming G8 Dementia Summit in the UK hopes to launch a world-wide attack on Alzheimer&#8217;s and ultimately stop the epidemic.<img src="https://img.prod.aplaceformom.com/main/uploads/alz/2019/07/Alzheimers-Will-be-a-Global-Epidemic-by-2050-300x218.jpg" alt="Alzheimer&#039;s Will be a Global Epidemic by 2050" width="300" height="218" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-67639" srcset="https://img.dev.aplaceformom.com/main/uploads/alz/2019/07/Alzheimers-Will-be-a-Global-Epidemic-by-2050-300x218.jpg 300w, https://img.dev.aplaceformom.com/main/uploads/alz/2019/07/Alzheimers-Will-be-a-Global-Epidemic-by-2050.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
The study uncovered startling statistics about the <a title="Future of Alzheimer's World Worldwide" href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/269712.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">future of dementia and Alzheimer&#8217;s worldwide</a>. Currently, there are 44 million people suffering from dementia globally. That number is up 22% over the past three years when there were 35.6 million people suffering from the disease. The report estimates that by 2050 over 135 million people worldwide will have dementia, tripling the amount of people who have it now.
The study precedes that first ever G8 Dementia Summit scheduled for December 11th in the United Kingdom.
<h2>What is the G8 Dementia Summit?</h2>
The United Kingdom is hoping to spark an international effort to combat the dementia epidemic by inviting health leaders from G8 countries to a summit to launch a coordinated attack against the disease. The goal of the <a title="G8 Summit" href="https://www.dementiablog.org/two-years-on-from-the-g8-dementia-summit-what-progress-has-been-made/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-cke-saved-href="http://dementiachallenge.dh.gov.uk/category/g8-dementia-summit/">G8 Dementia Summit</a> is to develop an international action plan on dementia. It is part of the &#8220;<a title="Dementia Challenge" href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prime-ministers-challenge-on-dementia-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-cke-saved-href="http://dementiachallenge.dh.gov.uk/about-the-challenge/">Dementia Challenge</a>&#8221; launched in March 2012 by Prime Minister David Cameron.
The summit aims to:
<ul>
<li>improve the quality of life for people who already have dementia</li>
<li>improve existing treatment of dementia as well as prevention methods</li>
<li>stimulate an international investment in dementia research</li>
</ul>
<h2>What does this mean for us?</h2>
The results of the report are scary to say the least. We need to take action now to prevent Alzheimer&#8217;s from becoming the global epidemic it is predicted to be. Marc Wortmann, Executive Director of Alzheimer&#8217;s Disease International, said, &#8220;This is a global epidemic, and it is getting worse &#8211; if we look at the future, we see the number of elderly will increase dramatically.&#8221; The Alzheimer&#8217;s Society noted that <a href="http://www.pharmatimes.com/news/details_of_dementia_epidemic_ahead_of_g8_summit_1006132" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">dementia is the most feared health condition</a> in seniors over the age of 55 and costs the economy more than cancer, strokes, or heart disease combined.
<h2>Join the fight:</h2>
The future may look bleak according to the report but there are steps we can take now to slow the epidemic.
Here are <a href="https://www.alzheimers.net/2013-09-18/stop-alzheimers-infographic/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">7 Things You Can Do to Stop Alzheimer&#8217;s by 2025</a>:
<ol>
<li>Join a clinical trial</li>
<li>Get genetic testing</li>
<li>Email, call, and tweet your Congressmen</li>
<li>Get educated about Alzheimer&#8217;s &amp; Dementia</li>
<li>Speak up if you see symptoms</li>
<li>Sign the Alzheimer&#8217;s petition</li>
<li>Volunteer or donate to an Alzheimer&#8217;s research or awareness organization</li>
</ol>
Related Articles:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.alzheimers.net/2013-12-09/physical-activity-prevents-alzheimers-disease/">It&#8217;s Not Too Late to Prevent Alzheimer&#8217;s Disease</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.alzheimers.net/2013-12-05/alternative-treatments-for-dementia/">4 Alternative Treatments for Alzheimer&#8217;s Disease</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.alzheimers.net/2013-12-02/researchers-shifting-focus-from-treatment-to-prevention/">Why Alz Researchers are Shifting Focus from Treatment to Prevention</a></li>
</ul>

Alzheimer's Will be a Global Epidemic by 2050

A new report titled, “Dementia: a public health priority” suggests that the number of people living with dementia will triple by 2050. The report was developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Alzheimer’s Disease International to raise awareness of dementia and advocate for action on an international level. The upcoming G8 Dementia Summit in the […]

The <a href="http://www.hhs.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Department of Health &amp; Human Services</a> recently released their first major update to the <a href="http://aspe.hhs.gov/daltcp/napa/#Plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">National Plan to Address Alzheimer&#8217;s Disease</a>. The Plan went into effect in May, setting a lofty national goal of effectively treating or preventing <a href="http://www.aplaceformom.com/alzheimers-care" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Alzheimer&#8217;s</a> by the year 2025. <img src="https://img.prod.aplaceformom.com/main/uploads/alz/2019/07/National-Plan-to-Address-Alzheimers-300x200.jpg" alt="National Plan to Address Alzheimer&#039;s: What&#039;s the Latest?" width="300" height="200" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-67850" srcset="https://img.dev.aplaceformom.com/main/uploads/alz/2019/07/National-Plan-to-Address-Alzheimers-300x200.jpg 300w, https://img.dev.aplaceformom.com/main/uploads/alz/2019/07/National-Plan-to-Address-Alzheimers.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<h2>12 Month Progress Check of the National Plan to Address Alzheimer&#8217;s</h2>
This is just the beginning, but notable progress was made in the first year. Highlights of accomplishments include:
<ul>
<li>Launch of <a href="http://www.alzheimers.gov">http://www.alzheimers.gov</a>, a very well received website designed to increase awareness and connect those effected by Alzheimer&#8217;s to resources that can help them.</li>
<li>Funding of multiple research projects, including two new major clinical trials.</li>
<li>Grants issued by the Health Resources and Services Administration to help provide training to over 10,000 health care providers. Topics range from dementia diagnosis to behavior management for dementia patients.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.nih.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">National Institutes of Health</a> convened a group of international experts for the <a href="http://www.nia.nih.gov/about/events/2012/alzheimers-disease-research-summit-2012-path-treatment-and-prevention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Alzheimer&#8217;s Disease Research Summit 2012: Path to Treatment and Prevention</a>. The panel developed recommendations on how to effectively advance research.</li>
<li>Meeting of funders held at the <a href="http://www.alz.org/research/funding/alzheimers_conference.asp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Alzheimer&#8217;s Association International Conference</a>. The goal was to understand global Alzheimer&#8217;s research endeavors, leverage resources, avoid duplication of efforts, and increase collaboration at an international level.</li>
</ul>
<h2>What We Can Expect Next</h2>
In addition to outlining the year&#8217;s successes, the June 2013 update sets forth measures and milestones for determining whether the plan is on track for reaching its goal. It also calls for:
<ul>
<li>Development of an Alzheimer&#8217;s curriculum for primary care physicians to help them provide the highest quality of dementia care.</li>
<li>Expanded detection of elder abuse among Alzheimer&#8217;s patients through aging networks and Alzheimer&#8217;s program providers.</li>
<li>Assembly of an expert panel to study the unique needs of those in the late stages of the disease.</li>
<li>Expanded public outreach and development of an enhanced Dementia Capability Toolkit to help state and local health networks provide dementia services in their areas.</li>
<li>Release of the second in a series of roadmaps intended to advance cognitive health as a vital part of overall public health.</li>
</ul>
To say we face a mammoth task would be a gross understatement. Did you know that for every $27,000 Medicare and Medicaid spend on Alzheimer&#8217;s care, the National Institutes of Health spend only $100 on research. The 2013 update also shines a spotlight on the recent RAND study concluding that costs related to Alzheimer&#8217;s exceed those related to cancer and heart disease.  The fact remains, unless we find a way to cure or delay the disease, estimates project it will cost the United States a staggering $1 trillion annually by 2050.
<h2>Global Partnership</h2>
On the <a href="http://www.aplaceformom.com/blog/dementia-care-around-the-world-4-2-2013/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">international front</a>, when the <a href="http://www.g8ni2013.com/about/the-summit/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">G8</a> met this month to discuss major economic issues, Alzheimer&#8217;s Disease was on the agenda. Realizing the monumental economic burden that comes with Alzheimer&#8217;s and related dementias, British Prime Minister David Cameron is encouraging establishment of a global agenda to address the matter.
<h2>Be an Advocate</h2>
Sometimes when the looming issue is as overwhelming in size and scope as this one, we feel that we as individuals can&#8217;t make a difference. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Each of us has the ability and responsibility to do our part to raise awareness and advocate for the resources needed to meet the 2025 goal. One great advocacy resource we all have at our fingertips is <a href="https://www.usagainstalzheimers.org/">USAgainstAlzheimers</a>. Register with them and receive the latest news as well as opportunities to voice your opinions to lawmakers.
What are your thoughts on the National Plan? Do you think 2025 is an achievable goal for effectively treating or preventing Alzheimer&#8217;s? We&#8217;d like to hear your opinions.

National Plan to Address Alzheimer's: What's the Latest?

The Department of Health & Human Services recently released their first major update to the National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease. The Plan went into effect in May, setting a lofty national goal of effectively treating or preventing Alzheimer’s by the year 2025. 12 Month Progress Check of the National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s This […]

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