“Most of America’s baby boomers will spend their retirement years either with Alzheimer’s or caring for someone who has it”–Generation Alzheimer’s
The Alzheimer’s Association recently released a groundbreaking study titled “Generation Alzheimer’s: The Defining Disease of the Baby Boomers.” Readers will be familiar with many concepts contained in this report, but seeing stark statistics and the agonizing human cost of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) gathered into one document has enormous impact. “Generation Alzheimer’s” aims to wake up boomers, telling them unflinchingly what could happen to our society–and to them–if finding a cure for AD is not made a top priority.
Hard facts from the Alzheimer’s Association
Some cold statistics stated in this comprehensive report show us the stark reality of the disease if its effects are left to multiply. Consider the following points:
- 5.3 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease
- 5.1 million of these people are aged 65 and over
- One in eight Americans aged 65 and over has Alzheimer’s
- Nearly one in two aged 85 and over has the disease
- Every 70 seconds, someone in America develops Alzheimer’s
- 10 million baby boomers will get Alzheimer’s
- In 2050, an American will develop Alzheimer’s every 33 seconds
Boomers are next target
“Generation Alzheimer’s” states flatly that age is the greatest risk factor for AD and that fact means that “baby boomers are its next target.”
The report states: “With the first wave of baby boomers reaching age 65, there is an impending wave of new cases and new families that will have to face the devastating, deteriorating, debilitating and heartbreaking disease known as Alzheimer’s–a progressive and fatal brain disorder that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. Eventually, Alzheimer’s kills, but not before it takes everything away from you. It steals a person’s memories, judgment and independence. It robs spouses of lifetime companions and children of parents and grandparents. It destroys the security of families and depletes millions of dollars annually from family and government budgets.”
The cost of Alzheimer’s casts a wide net
Giving care to a person with Alzheimer’s can kill the caregiver before the care receiver. The study reports that caring for someone with Alzheimer’s negatively affects the caregiver’s health, employment status, ability to earn a satisfying income and impact his/her financial security.
Yet, the human cost is far worse. Caregivers must watch their spouse, parent or other person they care for slowly disappear into him or herself, change in personality, become paranoid and frightened–often of the caregiver–and finally, not even recognize loved ones and family members. The Alzheimer’s Association is firm when saying that “unless we find a treatment or a cure, Alzheimer’s will become the defining disease of the Baby Boom Generation. They will be “Generation Alzheimer’s.”
The full “Generation Alzheimer’s” report is available free via an e-mail download from the Alzheimer’s Association. I urge readers to download the report, study it, soak in the implications for each of us and those we love, and take whatever action possible, whether it’s contacting your representative to encourage more funding for studies, donating time to help your local Alzheimer’s Association, or donating money.
The need is urgent.
Posted in Alzheimer’s, Studies | 1 Comment »Tags: Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's disease, Alzheimer's report
