Alzheimer’s refers to a disease involving changes in the brain leading to various concerns like dementia, behavioral changes, and cognitive loss among many other symptoms.  When a person is diagnosed to have Alzheimer’s disease, his/her brain will have undergone changes to result to various neurological symptoms.  Memory loss and cognitive problems lead to dementia which is a classic symptom of Alzheimer’s. The following are 12 other facts about this dreaded and debilitating disease:

Fact 1:  In the US alone, 1 American is said to develop or will Alzheimer’s disease every 67 seconds.  With more and more people getting this dreaded disease every few minutes or so, more and more people will also be needing health care and support.

Fact 2:  More women get Alzheimer’s disease compared to men.  Two-thirds of confirmed Alzheimer’s cases in the US are women and most of them are elderly.

Fact 3:  Alzheimer’s may be widely considered as a disease for the elderly affecting mostly 65 years old and older, many young people are actually affected by this disease.  As many as 200,000 Americans have been diagnosed with younger-onset type of Alzheimer’s disease.

Fact 4:  Recorded deaths secondary to Alzheimer’s disease has a staggering increase rate of 71% in the period between 2000 and 2013.  This period covers only 3 years of data but the rate of increase in Alzheimer’s-related deaths has already reached a very alarming 71%.

Fact 5:  People caring for Alzheimer’s patients actually need some caring for themselves.  Stress from care-giving work to Alzheimer’s patients is considered to be very high. These caregivers also end up sick themselves causing a serious concern in the healthcare industry.

Fact 6:  Treating Alzheimer’s disease is more expensive compared to the healthcare costs of other serious illnesses.  People with Alzheimer’s are expected to spend thrice as much for their healthcare needs compared to other cases that do not include dementia as the main symptom.

Fact 7:  Medicare spending in the US for Alzheimer’s is also increasing along with other related costs in the management of this disease.  Statistics have shown that 1 dollar out of every 5 dollars of Medicare budget is directed to the healthcare needs of Alzheimer’s patients.

Fact 8:  The development of Alzheimer’s starts way before symptoms become apparent.  Years before one person develops cognitive problems and dementia, the brain is said to have developed some kind of deterioration already.  This part of the process is referred to as the pre-clinical stage.

Fact 9:  Government spending is projected to increase exponentially for the management of Alzheimer’s disease.  This is simply due to the fact that the cases are growing among Americans.

Fact 10:  Many caregivers tasked to take care of Alzheimer’s patients are elderly themselves.  As much as 1/3 of the total healthcare workers in the US are around or beyond 60 years of age.