New Report Unmasks Alzheimers Disease

In March of 2010 the National Office of the Alzheimer’s Association released a sobering report on Alzheimer’s disease and those touched by its devastating affects. Incidents of Alzheimer’s disease are continuing to rise at drastic rates and will skyrocket once the baby boomers enter the age for greatest risk of development - age 65 and older. Today there are 5.3 million Americans living with the disease, including 210,000 living in Illinois alone. Illinois will see a 14% increase in the number of people who have Alzheimer’s disease by 2025. In addition Alzheimer’s disease remains the seventh leading cause of death nationally and the fifth leading cause of death in Illinois for those age 65 and older. “Alzheimer’s is a significant threat not only for the nation - but also for the people of Illinois,” said Erna Colborn, president and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association – Greater Illinois Chapter. “With family members providing care at home for about 70 percent of people with Alzheimer’s disease, the ripple effects of Alzheimer’s disease can be felt throughout the affected person’s entire family.” According to Facts and Figures, in 2009, nearly 11 million Alzheimer caregivers in the U.S. provided 12.5 billion hours of unpaid care valued at $144 billion. In Illinois alone, 386,207 caregivers, provided 439,812,201 hours of unpaid care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or another dementia valued at $5,057,840,312. The new report also reveals that more than 40 percent of family and other unpaid Alzheimer and dementia caregivers rate the emotional stress of caregiving as high or very high, compared with 28 percent of caregivers of other older people. The 2010 report also featured a special report on Race, Ethnicity and Alzheimer’s disease:

via www.alzheimers-illinois.org