The Risk of Dementia & Alzheimer’s in 2017
In the past 25 years, studies have shown a steady decline in the risk of dementia and alzheimer’s in America. This decline is believed to be due to an increase in active mental health and physical health. With the increasing accessibility of education, and the challenging stimulation of constant technological advancements, the older population of the US is more mentally sharp now than ever. There has also been an emphasized push toward cardiovascular health, encouraging more older Americans to eat healthy and stay active. Stronger mind and stronger bodies slow the manifestation of dementia and alzheimer’s, weakening their symptoms and overall impact.
Though mental and physical activity has resulted in a marked decline of dementia and alzheimer’s, it has been projected that America will see a dramatic increase of dementia and alzheimer’s cases by 2030. This anticipated spike in dementia and alzheimer’s patients is largely attributed to the spike in the 65-and-older population of the US: the aging baby-boomers.
The Near-Future of Dementia & Alzheimer’s
There are 74 million baby-boomers, a total 20% of the American population. As the baby-boomers age, the population of older Americans grows, resulting in the number of alzheimer’s and dementia cases to grow in tandem. Because of the massive collective of baby-boomers, the 65-and-older population of America is expected to double from 48 million to a whopping 88 million by 2050. In 2016, the earliest members of the baby-boomers turned 70, meaning a large portion of baby-boomers are already at risk for Alzheimer’s and dementia. For instance, in 2017 5.3 million of the 65-and-older population will be affected by Alzheimer’s or dementia. In less than 10 years, the 65-and-older population affected by Alzheimer’s or dementia will increase to 7.1 million.
Dementia & Alzheimer’s in 2017: By the Numbers
In 2017, 5.5 million Americans will be living with Alzheimer’s or dementia. 5.3 million of Americans living with Alzheimer’s or dementia in 2017 will be 65 or older. Of the 65-and-older population of Americans, 10% with suffer with Alzheimer’s or dementia, increasing to 17% at 74, and increasing further to 32% at 85.
In 2017, of the 5.3 million of the 65-and-older population that suffer from Alzheimer’s or dementia, 2.0 million will be men and 3.3 million will be women–meaning, in 2017, 66% of Americans with Alzheimer’s or dementia will be women.
In 2017, 38% of those with Alzheimer’s or dementia will be 85 or older, making-up 2.1 million of the 5.3 million. When the baby-boomers turn 85 in 2031, this number will increase from 2.1 million to 3 million, increasing again to 7 million by 2050–meaning, in 2050, 51% of dementia or Alzheimer’s sufferers will be 85 or older.
In 2017, the lifetime risk for Alzheimer’s or dementia for women at 45 is 20%–for men at 45, it is 10%. Once 65 or older, the lifetime risk for Alzheimer’s or dementia increases to 21% for women and 12% for men.
Cost of Caring for Dementia & Alzheimer’s Patients in 2017
In 2017, the different forms of alzheimer’s and dementia care services will see a marked increase in costs since 2012. For instance, in the last 5 years, in-home care costs have increased 1.3% annually, adult day care services has increased 2.5% annually, assisted living has increased 2.2% annually, and nursing homes have increased 3.5% annually.
In 2017, it will cost $259 billion annually to care for those living with Alzheimer’s or dementia. 67% of that $259 billion will be covered by Medicare and Medicaid, providing $175 billion worth of coverage. The majority of the remaining costs, unfortunately, will be covered out-of-pocket, meaning patients and families will be spending $56 billion on their own necessary care and treatment. As the baby-boomers inflate the 65-and-older population, the cost of Alzheimer’s and dementia care will rise dramatically to an unbelievable $1.1 trillion by 2050.
Living with Dementia & Alzheimer’s in 2017
In 2017, for every 1,000 hospital stays of those 65 and older, 538 will have Alzheimer’s or dementia. In 2017, those with Alzheimer’s or dementia will be commonly hospitalized due to fainting, falling, heart disease, or gastrointestinal disease, with 26% of hospitalizations due to trauma from falling. When a 65-and-older with Alzheimer’s or dementia is hospitalized, they have a 7% greater risk of death than those without Alzheimer’s or dementia.
Improved Dementia & Alzheimer’s Diagnosis in 2017
Alzheimer’s and dementia research has improved measurably, and will continue to improve in 2017, forever changing the way we approach and diagnose Alzheimer’s and dementia. In 2017, we will focus on the importance of biomarkers to diagnose Alzheimer’s and dementia. Biomarkers are internal indications where the body presents disease. For Alzheimer’s and dementia, biomarkers are assessed using brain imaging, evaluating the fluctuation of brain volume and spinal fluid. Because of biomarkers, researchers and doctors can better distinguish early-onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s, offering more accurate diagnosis and more comprehensive treatments. Biomarkers are groundbreaking because they allow earlier identification of Alzheimer’s or dementia in patients, resulting in better care that dramatically minimizes the effects of both diseases.
Combating Dementia & Alzheimer’s in 2017 and Beyond
Though we are getting better at combating Alzheimer’s and dementia through improved mental and physical health, we are still facing an increased disease rate due to population aging. Due to the aging of the baby-boomers, the population of older Americans is going to greatly increase, resulting in the subsequent increase of Alzheimer’s and dementia cases. Increasing alongside both the aging baby-boomers, and the number of Alzheimer’s and dementia sufferers, is the cost of Alzheimer’s and dementia care. As we move through 2017 and beyond, we will experience a great migration of funds toward the care of Alzheimer’s and dementia patients. With the increased demand, there are concerns that the current infrastructure of Alzheimer’s and dementia care will be inadequate, causing greater costs in order to fund the expansion of care.
To minimize the impact of Alzheimer’s and dementia symptoms, it is important to develop and maintain healthy mental and physical habits. Be active: walk, bike, take swim aerobics. Learn a new skill: take-up knitting, video games, sudoku, or learn a language. Constant, changing, challenging, stimulation is vital to your mental and physical health.
To minimize the overall impact of Alzheimer’s and dementia, 2017 will see a push for improved care and financing options. Clinical research calls for more effective and comprehensive care services that prevent unnecessary hospitalizations and complications. These same clinical researches call more more accessible financial models that better facilitate long-term care for dementia and Alzheimer’s patients.
