Alzheimer’s disease and the case of aging Americans

Alzheimer’s disease and the case of aging Americans

Experts regard Alzheimer’s disease as the most common cause of dementia

Watch the video below to find out more:

Around the world, there are approximately 50 million people who live with dementia—roughly 60% to 70% are estimated to have Alzheimer’s disease. Here in the United States, latest data puts the number of people aged 65 and older with Alzheimer’s disease at about 5.8 million. [1]

We’ve talked about some of the basic things to know about Alzheimer’s disease in one of our previous posts (see: Every family’s guide to understanding Alzheimer’s and dementia). Now, let’s probe deeper about this dreaded progressive condition, which is often determined by several risk factors, including age, family history, and genetics.

Here are a few additional things you may want to know about Alzheimer’s disease:

Treatment for Alzheimer’s disease is yet to be discovered

There has been no known treatment for Alzheimer’s disease anywhere in the world. Current medications given to people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease are only able to temporarily improve or slow down the progress of its symptoms, but people who carry it eventually develop severe memory loss and other related conditions.

Memory loss is the most common symptom

A declining memory often points out a bigger, more serious condition among aging people.

This can also be observed together with other things, including he gradual loss of cognitive functions (such as concentrating, reasoning, or multitasking, more commonly referred to as “thinking abilities”) and stark changes in behavior, personality, and temperament.

Wandering is a serious possibility

Seniors with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia are often disoriented. This, in turn, makes them prone to wandering and becoming lost every now and then. This may happen if they are left on their own to go or return from a short walk or drive from a place they used to frequent, then suddenly forgetting their way back.

Experts say that older men with Alzheimer’s disease are more prone to wandering than women.[2]

Although this is the case, early detection by medical experts and proper attention from professional caregivers can always spell a world of difference for seniors living with Alzheimers’ disease.

[1] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20350447

[2]https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/caregivers/in-depth/alzheimers/art-20046222