Did You Know? Alzheimer's Questions Answered - Are You At Risk

I recently got to sit in on a webinar centered around the subject of Alzheimer’s. Why would I be interested in Alzheimers? Well, it’s the 6th leading CAUSE of death in the U.S. and it cannot currently be prevented, treated or cured. Why is that important to me? Well, my mom is in her 70s and although she has no signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s it is still important for me to have a full understanding about the disease, besides I’m not exactly in my 20s any more.

Quick Facts About Alzheimer’s

5.4 million Americans are affected by Alzheimer’s, and someone is diagnosed every 6.9 seconds

African Americans are twice as likely as whites to develop Alzheimer’s

The number of Hispanics with Alzheimer’s and related dementias in the United States could increase more than six-fold by 2050, to as many as 1.3 million cases from fewer than 200,000 today

In 2012, the direct costs of caring for Americans with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias are expected to be $200 billion, including $140 billion in costs to Medicare and Medicaid

One in 10 adults is responsible for providing or arranging care for a relative or friend with the disease

One in eight Americans over age 65—and nearly one in two Americans over age 85—is currently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s

Early-onset Alzheimer’s, which involves about 3 percent of all Alzheimer’s diagnoses, is identified by symptoms that begin before age 65

Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia. It is not a normal part of aging, although the greatest known risk factor is increasing age

Sources: Details on attitudes about Alzheimer’s and connections to the disease are from a 2012 national survey for Banner Alzheimer’s Institute by Edge Research. Prevalence and cost data are courtesy of the Alzheimer’s Association.

My Gramma

What Can You Do About Alzheimer’s

Educating yourself is where you should start! The Alzheimer’s Prevention Registry is a great place to start. Finding ways to prevent Alzheimer’s is their primary goal and it is a huge mission to undertake. Personally, up until they were brought to my attention I never gave Alzheimer’s a thought. I just figured it would either happen to me or it wouldn’t but I didn’t realize there is much more to it than that until now. More Information

The Alzheimer’s Prevention Registry is an online community of people who want to make an impact on their future. Those who join will get the latest research news, can advocate for a greater national focus on the disease or take part in Alzheimer’s prevention studies now or in the future. The Registry was created by researchers from Banner Alzheimer’s Institute (BAI), who lead the Alzheimer’s Prevention Initiative (API).

ANYONE can join the registry as long as they are over the age of 18. Their goal is to inform enrollees about the latest news and advocacy to drive focus to Alzheimer’s. They also provide a resource for potential study participants for prevention research. Their enrollment goal is to reach 100,000 by June 2013 (they are currently at 5,000), so they have quite a way to go…can you help spread the word?

Join The Alzheimer’s Prevention Registry

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post on behalf of The Alzheimer’s Prevention Registry in connection with The Motherhood. I received a stipend for my involvement, but that is nothing in comparison to what I gained (learned) by being involved.