Alzheimer Growth

We were tracking the story from The Associated Press, Atlanta Journal Constitution, US News, USA Today, LA Times, "a new report from Alzheimer's Disease International" (PDF) about the rising Alzheimer rates with info on how to "reduce your risk." The interest for us is in the increasing numbers and costs associated with the increase. It's not quite at the "Alzheimer's out to get ya" phase but as we age we're keeping the stats in mind. Like the commercial where the senior says "that's for old people - I'm not old!" We put it it that category.

To decrease your risk, exercise, eat right, stay active in your social circles, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah... But most importantly we learn this from the US News and World Report: "Granted, there isn't a proven prescription for prevention. The challenge researchers face is how to pluck out the meaningful behaviors of people who maintain cognitive function into old age, then put them to the test in rigorous clinical trials."

So even if you found a way to do all the "6 Ways to Protect Yourself Against Alzheimer's and Dementia." You still could suffer from Alzheimer. It's just a good idea to do the six ways. However as you start to suffer it gets difficult to do any of the things that you have to remember to do to not suffer. You can't keep friends when you can't recall how you met the person. Like all diseases`we have the irrational fear that regardless of what's known somehow you can catch just by being near the sick.

Nursingtimes reports: "Longer lifespans means in 20 years there will be nearly twice as many people suffering from dementia in the world as there are today, experts have warned. In 2010 there will be 35.6 million people across the world with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, which will almost double to 65.7 million in 2030, according to British researchers. They estimated that the number would nearly double again 20 years later, to 115.4 million in 2050."

That's just one of the costs of the increase. The other is the bill for medical treatment of these individuals which would dwarf any public option any nation or leader anywhere is considering. That cost will be one paid for by our children and our children's children worldwide.