Alzheimer’s Disease’s Hidden Epidemic : How It Affects Millions of Americans is a subject that discusses the impacts of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) on society and the public health, including incidence, prevalence, mortality, morbidity, costs, and effects on carers and the general population.
Why Alzheimer’s Disease is called Hidden Epidemic?
A recent study showed that 6.5 million Americans aged 65 and older are currently dealing with Alzheimer’s disease. If no medical advances are made to prevent, slow down, or cure AD, this figure might increase to 13.8 million by 2060.
The sixth most common cause of mortality in the country and the fifth most common among people 65 and older is Alzheimer’s disease.
Deaths from heart disease, HIV, and stroke all declined between 2000 and 2019, but recorded deaths from AD grew by more than 145%.
Negative Impact of Alzheimer’s Disease
The patient and their family, as well as any carers they may have, are all impacted by the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Emotional, psychological, and physical health of elderly people is facing negative impact due to challenges they are dealing with.
An estimated 15.3 billion hours of care were given to people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias in 2020 by more than 11 million family members and other unpaid carers.
In 2020, People with this disease or dementias have got an estimated 15.3 billion hours of care about 11 million family member.
The costs associated with Alzheimer’s are also astronomical. Health care, long-term care, and hospice expenses for dementia patients 65 years of age and older gone up to total $355 billion in 2021.
In 2020, the cost of unpaid dementia care estimate was about $256.7 billion.
Medicaid (Public Medical Insurance by US federal, state, and local governments) payments are more than 23 times more than Medicare payments, while average per-person Medicare payments for services to beneficiaries age 65 and older with AD or other dementias are more than three times as big.
Racial & Ethnic Effect
Racial and ethnic disparities still exist in the United States’ health care system despite years of efforts to make it more equitable.
These differences can be found in both health disparities, which involve differences in the burden of illness, and health care disparities, which involve differences in the ability to access health services.
While non-Hispanic whites are less likely than people of colour to get Alzheimer’s disease, they are also less likely to receive a diagnosis, treatment, or support services.
More study is required
Millions of Americans and their families are impacted by the hidden pandemic known as Alzheimer’s disease. More study, education, advocacy, and action are needed for this complex and difficult disorder.
Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder that causes a decline in memory, thinking, behavior and social skills over time. It is the most common cause of dementia and usually affects people over the age of 65.