Early Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Could Save the Nation Trillions of Dollars

The Alzheimer’s Association recently released their “2018 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures” report.  In it, it shows that for the second consecutive year the total payments to care for people with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia are estimated to exceed a quarter of a trillion dollars.  “The projected $277 billion total is an increase of almost $20 billion from last year. By 2050, costs are expected to surpass $1 trillion.”

The report also shows that the number of Americans who are afflicted with Alzheimer is growing every year.  It is estimated that 5.7 million people in our country have Alzheimer’s and every 65 seconds someone develops the disease.  Based on those figures, the Alzheimer’s Association now predicts that 14 million people will have the disease by 2050.  These numbers are making the disease one of the most expensive in the country.

However one important point highlighted in the report is the assumption that if more people are diagnosed in the early stages of the disease, it could save the country “as much as $7.9 trillion over the lifetimes of those living with it.”  Although there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, drug and non-drug treatments can help with both cognitive and behavioral symptoms.  The 2018 report says that an early diagnosis can also be beneficial to the person’s caregivers and family.

Keith Fargo, director of scientific programs and outreach for the Alzheimer's Association, states that "We must continue to attack Alzheimer's through a multidimensional approach that advances research while also improving support for people with the disease and their caregivers."  From 2000 to 2015, deaths from the disease increased 123 percent and Alzheimer’s is now the sixth-leading cause of death in the U.S. 

At MorningStar at Mountain Shadows, we offer loving and compassionate assisted living and memory care.  Our team is committed to providing a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community in a “true home” setting. 

At MorningStar at Mountain Shadows, we represent the very best in senior living with a unique mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.”  We have built a foundation on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve to create a true “home” for residents at the foot of the majestic Rockies.  Please schedule a visit to experience firsthand our beautiful senior living community.      

Source:

usnews.com/news/health-care-news/articles/2018-03-20/report-alzheimers-disease-will-cost-us-277b-in-2018

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