Oliver: ‘Facts and Figures’ report offers look at Alzheimer’s disease in nation

“I sometimes forget people’s names and why I entered a room. Do I have Alzheimer’s disease?”

As someone who cares for someone with Alzheimer’s disease, I hear this a lot.

Most of the time I try to offer reassurance that we all sometimes forget a name. After all, we’re all under a lot of stress and we’re distracted by all the things we feel we need to do.

Still, I like to remind folks who ask that if there is a sense of concern, please get it checked out. There’s no shame in bringing up the question with one’s primary physician.

The topic of mild cognitive impairment is the focus of a special report by the Alzheimer’s Association that goes along with its annual “Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures” report. Both reports can be found online at alz.org.

Here are some of this year’s quick facts:

• One in three seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another dementia.
• More than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease. By 2050, that number is expected to reach almost 13 million.
• Alzheimer’s disease kills more people than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined.
• Seventy-three percent of those with Alzheimer’s today are 75 and older. About two-thirds are women.
• In 2020, COVID-19 contributed to a 17% increase in Alzheimer’s and dementia deaths.
• Between 2000 and 2019, deaths from heart disease decreased 7.3%, but deaths from Alzheimer’s disease increased 145%.
• People 65 and older survive an average of four to eight years after a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, yet some live as long as 20 years with the disease.

Alzheimer’s disease and its related dementias take a toll not just on those who have the disease, but on all of us. Here are a few startling facts that I can personally relate to:

• More than 11 million Americans provide unpaid care for people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias. Those caregivers provided more than 16 billion hours, which amounts to a value of almost $272 billion.
• Compared with caregivers of people without dementia, twice as many caregivers of those with dementia indicate substantial emotional, financial and physical difficulties.
• In 2022, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias will cost the nation $321 billion. That number could rise to almost $1 trillion by 2050.

When it comes to mild cognitive impairment, the Alzheimer’s Association found that more than 80% of Americans know little or are not familiar with it.

Mild cognitive impairment is an early stage of memory loss or other cognitive ability loss in people who can perform most activities of daily living.

Although at this stage, people with MCI can function, an estimated 10% to 15% of those with MCI will develop dementia each year. About one-third develop dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease within five years.

In fact, 90% of physicians who were surveyed said it’s important to diagnose mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s. Yet, more than half said they are not fully comfortable diagnosing it.

Most doctors – 96% – said it’s important to evaluate patients who are 60 and older for cognitive impairment. However, assessments are conducted on just half of their patients.

Clearly, much remains to be done to get the word out about mild cognitive impairment and what can be done about it. That same survey found that 42% of Americans say they worry about developing MCI due to Alzheimer’s disease.

Like I said, I’ve heard a lot of people express concern.

Now, backed with more statistics and personal experience, I will be able to say confidently that if you’re worried, have a conversation with your doctor.

Knowing might be scary, but not as scary as doing nothing.

• Joan Oliver is the former Northwest Herald assistant news editor. She has been associated with the Northwest Herald since 1990. She can be reached at jolivercolumn@gmail.com.