The Facts about Alzheimer’s

​The Alzheimer’s Association facts and figures report is a great reference for gaining knowledge about Alzheimer’s disease. Check out some of the helpful Alzheimer’s disease facts from this report.

Millions of Americans are Affected by Alzheimer’s

According to the Alzheimer’s Association 2019 facts and figures report, around 5.8 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease. Out of the 5.8 million people who have Alzheimer’s, 81 percent are 75 years and older. However, Alzheimer’s dementia is underdiagnosed, so a large percentage of Americans may have Alzheimer’s, but don’t know it.

Women have a Higher Risk of Getting Alzheimer’s

​Two-thirds of Americans who have Alzheimer’s are women. Some of the possible social and biological reasons why more women have Alzheimer’s is that women generally live longer than men. Also, a number of studies have shown that the APOE-e4 genotype (a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s) may have a stronger association with Alzheimer’s in women than in men. 

Alzheimer’s Disease is Progressive

​Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease, which means that it worsens over time. As time goes on, Alzheimer’s symptoms (such as memory loss or repetitive behaviors) begin to increase and can interfere with the completion of daily living activities. 

Stages of Alzheimer’s

​Currently, the three stages of Alzheimer’s are preclinical Alzheimer’s disease, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to Alzheimer’s disease, and dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease.

In the preclinical Alzheimer’s stage, the brain begins to change, but symptoms do not appear yet. During the MCI stage, changes in thinking abilities may become obvious to family members, but everyday activities are not extremely affected yet. In dementia due to Alzheimer’s stage, memory and behavioral symptoms usually prevent a person from completing daily living activities. 

The Effect of the Aging Baby Boomer Generation

​The baby boomer generation is a huge segment of the United States population and they are now between the ages of 55 years old and 75 years old. Therefore, as the baby boomers continue to get older, there will most likely be an increase in the number of new and existing cases of Alzheimer’s. By 2025, the number of people ( who have Alzheimer’s) age 65 and older is projected to increase by 27% more than 5.6 million age 65 and older affected in 2019. 

If you have a loved one who has Alzheimer’s, it’s important to talk with your doctor and consider starting the process of transitioning your loved one into a memory care community. At the Martin Luther Campus Memory Care Community, we provide person-centered care, thoughtfully designed spaces, engaging activities, experienced staff, family education and support. Martin Luther care center also maintains purposeful partnerships with the Alzheimer’s Association, ACT on Alzheimer’s, and more. Call Amy at 952-948-5167 for more information and to schedule a tour today.
 
References:
https://communityrising.kasasa.com/gen-x-gen-y-gen-z/
https://www.alz.org/media/Documents/alzheimers-facts-and-figures-2019-r.pd

Martin Luther Campus is part of the Ebenezer family of Lutheran Senior Care Communities. We provide transitional care and assisted living apartments for seniors in Bloomington and Richfield. We also have adult day clubs and memory care programs for seniors living at home. We’re located at 1401 East 100th St. Bloomington, MN. Are you interested in transitioning to assisted living or do you have a loved one that needs assisted living? Call Amy at 952-948-5167 for more information and to schedule a tour today. 
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