At NCHC, we want to do our part to help educate people about Alzheimer’s disease and the need to address what is not only a public health crisis, but a source of high health care costs for payers and families.  Below are some key facts about the disease:

Alzheimer’s is a leading cause of death:  One in six seniors will die from Alzheimer’s or another dementia, and it is the 6^th leading cause of death in the U.S.

Alzheimer’s is a disease that affects the whole family:  Alzheimer’s patients are cared for by 15 million caregivers in the U.S. and 100 million worldwide.  In 2015, 15.9 million family and friends provided 18.1 billion hours of unpaid care to those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.

Alzheimer’s is a heavier burden for women and minorities:  Women make up two-third of those with Alzheimer’s and approximately two-thirds of caregivers are women, and 34 percent are age 65 or older African Americans are twice as likely and Latinos 1.5 times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s than white Americans, although the reasons for these disparities are not fully understood.

Alzheimer’s is an expensive disease:  In 2016, total payments for health care, long-term care and hospice are estimated to be $236 billion for people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias, with just under half of the costs borne by Medicare. Nearly one in every five Medicare dollars is spent on people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. In 2050, it will be one in every three dollars.  It can have a devastating impact on families, too.  On average, caregivers lose over $15,000 in annual income as a result of reducing or quitting work to meet the demands of caregiving.