The Alzheimer’s Association 2018 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report shows that the impact of Alzheimer’s — both human and financial — is growing rapidly. An estimated 5.7 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer’s, and the total national cost of caring for people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias is expected to exceed a quarter of a trillion dollars this year. And, deaths from Alzheimer’s disease increased 123 percent between 2000 and 2015 while deaths from other major causes decreased.
“Discoveries in science mean fewer people are dying at an early age from heart disease, cancer and other diseases,” said Keith Fargo, Scientific Programs & Outreach Director for the Alzheimer’s Association. “Similar scientific breakthroughs are needed for Alzheimer’s disease and will only be achieved by making it a national health priority.”
Other findings from this year’s Facts and Figures report include:
- Total national cost of caring for those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias is estimated to be $277 billion in 2018.
- More than 16 million Americans provide provided 18.4 billion hours of unpaid care for people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias in 2017, a contribution to the nation valued at $232.1 billion.
- It is estimated that the United States has approximately half the number of certified geriatricians that it currently needs, and only nine percent of nurse practitioners report having special expertise in gerontological care.
The full text of the Facts and Figures report—including state-specific data on prevalence, costs, and caregiving—can be viewed online.
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