Report: Burdens of Alzheimer’s disease, dementia continues to grow

By: 
Pamela J. Myers, Alzheimer’s Association NW and Central Ohio

        “Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures,” an annual report released by the Alzheimer’s Association, reveals the burden of Alzheimer’s and dementia on individuals, caregivers, government and the nation’s health care system.
        The accompanying special report, “More Than Normal Aging: Understanding Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI),” examines the challenges that physicians and the American public face in understanding and diagnosing mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which is characterized by subtle changes in memory and thinking. It is estimated 10% to 15% of individuals with MCI go on to develop dementia each year.
        Here are a few highlights from the report, which was releases on March 15:
        • The “2022 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures” report illustrates that the burden of Alzheimer’s in our country and here in Northwest Ohio is continuing to grow.
        • More Americans are living with the disease. An estimated 6.5 million Americans aged 65 and older have Alzheimer’s dementia, including more than 220,000 Ohioans.
        • Many family members and friends are serving as Alzheimer’s caregivers. In Ohio, 421,000 caregivers provided a total of 614,000,000 hours of unpaid care, valued at a total of $10,050,000,000.
        • Deaths due to Alzheimer’s have increased an alarming 145 percent since 2000, while deaths for other major diseases remained flat or decreased. As the U.S. population ages, Alzheimer’s is becoming a more common cause of death.
        • The costs are unsustainable. For the sixth consecutive year, the cost of caring for individuals with Alzheimer’s is surpassing a quarter of a trillion dollars. Here in Ohio, the Medicaid costs of caring for people with Alzheimer’s is estimated at $2.534 billion. By 2025, these costs are projected to increase by 16%.
        • The report also shines a light on the alarming lack of familiarity of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and MCI due to Alzheimer’s disease with the public and doctors across the country.
        • Many Americans confuse MCI with normal aging, but it’s not. MCI can be a precursor to Alzheimer’s disease, affecting 12% to 18% of individuals aged 60 and older.
        • More than four in five Americans (82%) know little or are not familiar with MCI.
        • More than three-quarters of primary care physicians (77%) report MCI due to Alzheimer’s being difficult to diagnose, and half more than half (51%) do not feel comfortable diagnosing it.
        • Enhancing awareness, diagnosis and treatment of MCI, particularly MCI due to Alzheimer’s disease, are increasingly important as emerging and future treatments target Alzheimer’s disease earlier in the disease process while helping families and physicians prepare for future treatment and care.
        • The advancements of new treatments, including the recent accelerated approval of aducanumab, and the 104 disease-modifying treatments currently in clinical trials, are further heightening the importance of early and accurate diagnosis of MCI due to Alzheimer’s disease.
        • The Alzheimer’s Association is committed to bolstering the public’s understanding of MCI, including MCI due to Alzheimer’s disease, while also working to support primary care physicians’ ability to diagnose, manage and treat cognitive impair.
        The report underscores the urgency for our country to further its investment in Alzheimer’s research that will advance treatments that can reverse these trends – while also continuing to advance public policies and expanding care and support programs in our communities to help people living with the disease and their caregivers.
        Visit ALZ.org to learn more about this year’s “Alzheimer’s Association Facts and Figures” report and how you can get personally involved in the fight against Alzheimer’s.
        For local care and support or to participate in local programs, call our office at 419-537-1999.
        Pamela Myers is a program manager at the Alzheimer’s Association, Northwest Ohio Chapter. Visit alz.org/nwohio or call 800-272-3900 for more information about Alzheimer’s Association programs and services.
 

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