September 21, 2006 at 06:57:37

World Alzheimer's Awareness day

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By John Carey (about the author) Page 2 of 2 page(s)

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But this overlooks the fact that many suffer the ill effects of the disease and still receive no care and that our aging population is growing at a breathtaking rate.

"These startling cost estimates for Alzheimer's care clearly illustrate the great challenges faced by both families and our national healthcare systems as the number of people with Alzheimer's continues to grow," said William Thies, Ph.D., Alzheimer's Association vice president of Medical and Scientific Relations. "Increasing the funding for Alzheimer's research into early detection, better treatment and prevention is critical to curbing this impending world health disaster. We can fund research now or wait for Alzheimer's to overwhelm the health systems in the U.S. and throughout the world."

According to the Department of Health and Human Services Administration on Aging, the older population--persons 65 years or older--numbered 36.3 million in 2004 (the latest year for which data is available). They represented 12.4% of the U.S. population, about one in every eight Americans. By 2030, there will be about 71.5 million older persons, more than twice their number in 2000. People 65+ represented 12.4% of the population in the year 2000 but are expected to grow to be 20% of the population by 2030.

According to the U.S. Alzheimer's Association, Medicare costs for people with Alzheimer's will be over $1 trillion by 2050 and Medicaid costs for nursing home care alone will be about $118 billion.
Nobody can say for sure how many people among us will have Alzheimer's in the future but some experts say we will have 16 million or more Alzheimer's sufferers in America by 2050. The treatment costs for these people will certainly be staggering.

"All too often, seniors are unable to access adequate mental health care in their communities, even when they have access to other health care services in places like local community centers," said Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) who works closely in the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease on Capitol Hill with Senator Clinton and others.

Add to this health care crisis an often overlooked segment of the population that Senator Clinton often discusses: patients and sufferers from Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease. These are younger sufferers; people sometimes as young as fifty years of age.

"Alzheimer's doesn't just affect the elderly," Senator Clinton said. "When Alzheimer's disease or other dementias unexpectedly strike younger individuals, they face daunting challenges in addition to the disease itself, like difficulty obtaining a diagnosis, early retirement and the loss of jobs and income."

Congressional funding for Alzheimer's education, research and related programs such as 24/7 Call Centers, the National Family Caregiver Support Program, and other efforts, is never easily secured. Congressional committees with oversight and funding authority for Alzheimer's projects have already recommended funding cuts to several Alzheimer's programs in this budget cycle and the House and Senate are not expected to vote on Alzheimer's projects until after the November elections.

"Although we have made progress in the awareness, diagnosis, and treatment of Alzheimer's over the past 15 years... we must do more," Senator Clinton said. "We must continue to make this disease a national priority. This means directing more resources to learn how to identify early onset dementia and stop its progression."

"I am hopeful that together we can combat this disease and do all we can to bring hope, help and an eventual cure to the millions of Americans with Alzheimer's," Senator Clinton said.

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John E. Carey is the former president of International Defense Consultants, Inc.

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