Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-related and irreversible brain disorder that occurs gradually and results in memory loss, behavior and personality changes, and a decline in thinking abilities.

These losses are related to the breakdown of the connections between nerve cells in the brain and the eventual death of many of these cells. The course of this disease varies from person to person, as does the rate of decline. On average, patients with AD live for 8 to 10 years after they are diagnosed, though the disease can last for up to 20 years. AD is part of a group of disorders, termed dementias, that are characterized by cognitive and behavioral problems.

AD advances progressively, from mild forgetfulness to a severe loss of mental function. In most people with AD, symptoms first appear after age 60. The earliest symptoms characteristically include loss of recent memory, later compounded by faulty judgment, and changes in personality.

Often, people in the initial stages of AD think less clearly and tend to be easily confused. Later in the disease, they may forget how to do simple tasks, such as how to dress themselves or eat with proper utensils.

Eventually, people with AD lose the capacity to function on their own and become completely dependent on other people for their everyday care. Finally, the disease becomes so debilitating that patients are bedridden and likely to develop other illnesses and infections.

Most commonly, people with AD die of pneumonia. Although the risk of developing AD increases with age, AD and dementia symptoms are not a part of normal aging.

AD and other dementing disorders are caused by diseases that affect the brain. In the absence of disease, the human brain often can function well into the tenth decade of life.

The Impact of Alzheimer's Disease

AD is the most common cause of dementia among people age 65 and older. It presents a major health problem for the United States because of its enormous impact on individuals, families, the health care system, and society as a whole.

Scientists estimate that up to 4 million people currently suffer with the disease, and the prevalence (the number of people with the disease at any one time) doubles every 5 years beyond age 65.

It is also estimated that approximately 360,000 new cases (incidence) will occur each year and that this number will increase as the population ages (Brookmeyer et al., 1998).

These numbers are significant now and will become even more so in the future. Since the turn of the century, life expectancies have increased dramatically. An estimated 35 million people - 13 percent of the total population of the United States ? are now aged 65 and older.

According to the U.S. Bureau of the Census, this percentage will accelerate rapidly beginning in 2011, when the first baby boomers reach age 65. By 2050 the number of Americans aged 65 and older will have doubled, to 70 million people.

Approximately 4 million Americans are 85 years old or older, and in most industrialized countries, this age group is one of the fastest growing segments of the population.

The Bureau of the Census estimates that this group will number nearly 19 million by the year 2050; some experts who study population trends suggest that the number could be even greater. This trend is not only apparent in the U.S. but also worldwide.

As more and more people live longer, the number of people affected by diseases of aging, including AD, will continue to grow. For example, one study shows that nearly half of all people age 85 and older have some form of dementia (Evans et al., 1989).

One of the most pressing current issues is determining possible differences in AD risk, incidence, and prevalence among various racial and ethnic groups. These differences are important to study for several reasons.

One is that the percentage of non-Caucasians in the older U.S. population is growing rapidly (by the year 2050, the percentage of the population over the age of 65 that is non-Caucasian will have increased from 16 percent to 34 percent).

Another is that the variations in prevalence may give us important future insights into the different roles that particular genetic and environmental factors play in the development of AD.

Recent research has shown that African Americans and Hispanic Americans may have a higher overall risk of AD than do Caucasians (Tang et al., 1998), although other studies have found conflicting results (Fillenbaum et al., 1998).

It is important to note that many factors may be responsible for these differing estimates, for these populations vary in many respects besides their racial or ethnic diversity.

Differences in socioeconomic status, health care, education, events occurring before birth (prenatally) or right around birth (perinatally), and life history may all influence a person?s eventual risk of AD.

Even the ways in which diagnostic tests that measure language, memory, and cognitive function are constructed and applied may cause people to be diagnosed with AD if their level of education or cultural assimilation makes them score lower on the test than do people with a higher level of education who are more culturally assimilated.

Clearly, further careful investigation is needed to examine the role that ethnic and racial differences may play in determining the risk of AD, and studies now ongoing should begin to provide some answers.

AD puts a heavy economic burden on society. A recent study estimated that the annual cost of caring for one AD patient is $18,408 for a patient with mild AD, $30,096 for a patient with moderate AD, and $36,132 for a patient with severe AD (Leon et al., 1998).

The annual national direct and indirect costs of caring for AD patients are estimated to be as much as $100 billion (Ernst and Hay, 1994; Ernst et al., 1997; Huang et al., 1988).

Slightly more than half of AD patients receive care at home, while the remainder are cared for in a variety of health care institutions. Many spouses, relatives, and friends take care of people with AD.

During their years of caregiving, these families and friends experience emotional, physical, and financial stresses. They watch their loved ones become more and more forgetful, frustrated, and confused.

Eventually, the person with AD may not even recognize his or her nearest and dearest relatives and friends. Caregivers ? most of whom are women - must juggle child care, jobs, and other responsibilities with caring for relatives with AD who cannot function on their own.

As the disease runs its course and the abilities of people with AD steadily decline, family members face difficult decisions about the long-term care of their loved ones.

Frequently, they have no choice but to place their relative in a nursing home. The numbers of caregivers ? and their needs ? can be expected to grow significantly as the population ages and as the number of people with AD increases.
(Courtesy of the National Institute of Aging)

Jacqui



			Boomer Forum
	Alzheimer's Disease: Introduction & Impact (Courtesy of the National Institute of Aging) Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-related and irreversible brain disorder that occurs gradually and results in memory loss, behavior and personality changes, and a decline in thinking abilities. These losses are related to the breakdown of the connections between nerve cells in the brain and the eventual death of many of these cells. The course of this disease varies from person to person, as does the rate of decline. On average, patients with AD live for 8 to 10 years after they are diagnosed, though the disease can last for up to 20 years. AD is part of a group of disorders, termed dementias, that are characterized by cognitive and behavioral problems. AD advances progressively, from mild forgetfulness to a severe loss of mental function. In most people with AD, symptoms first appear after age 60. The earliest symptoms characteristically include loss of recent memory, later compounded by faulty judgment, and changes in personality. Often, people in the initial stages of AD think less clearly and tend to be easily confused. Later in the disease, they may forget how to do simple tasks, such as how to dress themselves or eat with proper utensils. Eventually, people with AD lose the capacity to function on their own and become completely dependent on other people for their everyday care. Finally, the disease becomes so debilitating that patients are bedridden and likely to develop other illnesses and infections. Most commonly, people with AD die of pneumonia. Although the risk of developing AD increases with age, AD and dementia symptoms are not a part of normal aging. AD and other dementing disorders are caused by diseases that affect the brain. In the absence of disease, the human brain often can function well into the tenth decade of life. The Impact of Alzheimer's Disease AD is the most common cause of dementia among people age 65 and older. It presents a major health problem for the United States because of its enormous impact on individuals, families, the health care system, and society as a whole. Scientists estimate that up to 4 million people currently suffer with the disease, and the prevalence (the number of people with the disease at any one time) doubles every 5 years beyond age 65. It is also estimated that approximately 360,000 new cases (incidence) will occur each year and that this number will increase as the population ages (Brookmeyer et al., 1998). These numbers are significant now and will become even more so in the future. Since the turn of the century, life expectancies have increased dramatically. An estimated 35 million people - 13 percent of the total population of the United States ? are now aged 65 and older. According to the U.S. Bureau of the Census, this percentage will accelerate rapidly beginning in 2011, when the first baby boomers reach age 65. By 2050 the number of Americans aged 65 and older will have doubled, to 70 million people. Approximately 4 million Americans are 85 years old or older, and in most industrialized countries, this age group is one of the fastest growing segments of the population. The Bureau of the Census estimates that this group will number nearly 19 million by the year 2050; some experts who study population trends suggest that the number could be even greater. This trend is not only apparent in the U.S. but also worldwide. As more and more people live longer, the number of people affected by diseases of aging, including AD, will continue to grow. For example, one study shows that nearly half of all people age 85 and older have some form of dementia (Evans et al., 1989). One of the most pressing current issues is determining possible differences in AD risk, incidence, and prevalence among various racial and ethnic groups. These differences are important to study for several reasons. One is that the percentage of non-Caucasians in the older U.S. population is growing rapidly (by the year 2050, the percentage of the population over the age of 65 that is non-Caucasian will have increased from 16 percent to 34 percent). Another is that the variations in prevalence may give us important future insights into the different roles that particular genetic and environmental factors play in the development of AD. Recent research has shown that African Americans and Hispanic Americans may have a higher overall risk of AD than do Caucasians (Tang et al., 1998), although other studies have found conflicting results (Fillenbaum et al., 1998). It is important to note that many factors may be responsible for these differing estimates, for these populations vary in many respects besides their racial or ethnic diversity. Differences in socioeconomic status, health care, education, events occurring before birth (prenatally) or right around birth (perinatally), and life history may all influence a person?s eventual risk of AD. Even the ways in which diagnostic tests that measure language, memory, and cognitive function are constructed and applied may cause people to be diagnosed with AD if their level of education or cultural assimilation makes them score lower on the test than do people with a higher level of education who are more culturally assimilated. Clearly, further careful investigation is needed to examine the role that ethnic and racial differences may play in determining the risk of AD, and studies now ongoing should begin to provide some answers. AD puts a heavy economic burden on society. A recent study estimated that the annual cost of caring for one AD patient is $18,408 for a patient with mild AD, $30,096 for a patient with moderate AD, and $36,132 for a patient with severe AD (Leon et al., 1998). The annual national direct and indirect costs of caring for AD patients are estimated to be as much as $100 billion (Ernst and Hay, 1994; Ernst et al., 1997; Huang et al., 1988). Slightly more than half of AD patients receive care at home, while the remainder are cared for in a variety of health care institutions. Many spouses, relatives, and friends take care of people with AD. During their years of caregiving, these families and friends experience emotional, physical, and financial stresses. They watch their loved ones become more and more forgetful, frustrated, and confused. Eventually, the person with AD may not even recognize his or her nearest and dearest relatives and friends. Caregivers ? most of whom are women - must juggle child care, jobs, and other responsibilities with caring for relatives with AD who cannot function on their own. As the disease runs its course and the abilities of people with AD steadily decline, family members face difficult decisions about the long-term care of their loved ones. Frequently, they have no choice but to place their relative in a nursing home. The numbers of caregivers ? and their needs ? can be expected to grow significantly as the population ages and as the number of people with AD increases. (Courtesy of the National Institute of Aging) Jacqui Copyright 2002 Brandwynne Corporation. All rights reserved. Thank you for your trust.
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