Alzheimer's a growing problem worldwide, expert says
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on August 30, 2015 1:50 AM
The cost of Alzheimer's disease -- financially as well as emotionally -- continues to be staggering, a Brody School of Medicine professor said during a caregiver education conference held in Goldsboro on Thursday.
Dr. Renee Banaszak, clinical assistant professor, said the number of people diagnosed with dementia-related illness and the amount spent on the disease will not get smaller in the foreseeable future.
"Unfortunately, Alzheimer's is the only leading cause of death that's still on the rise," she said.
The disease is irreversible and progressive, she said. And even though great strides have been made, it is still considered fatal.
"As the world ages, so does the Alzheimer's percentage grow," she said. "Right now in the world there's about 35 and a half million people who are affected with Alzheimer's and it's not just in the richest nations, either.
"Sixty percent of the people with dementia live in developing countries so we can't really link it to poverty, we can't link it to a lot of things. But we do know that by 2050, we expect it to be up over 115 million people around the world who are dealing with Alzheimer's disease."
Alzheimer's North Carolina and the Eastern Carolina Council Area Agency on Aging hosted the Goldsboro caregiver education conference at Herman Park Center.
The audience was predominantly comprised of agencies that provide support for Alzheimer's patients and their families, including Senior Companions, operated by WAGES.
But organizers were not deterred by the sparse crowd, said Lisa Levine, program director for Alzheimer's NC.
"We love to hold people's hands through this process," she said, suggesting the small group setting afforded an opportunity to "really talk to these folks" and answer questions.
Dr. Banaszak said the oft-asked questions center around whether or not it will happen to them.
"Everybody wants to know, is it going to be me?" she said. "We're digging hard and fast but we don't have an answer right now."
Certain populations may be prone to it, with some risk factors being age and genetics, she said. And scientists are finding that what is healthy for the heart -- like diet and exercise -- is also healthy for the brain, she said.
She also addressed some of the more common myths, which have suggested things like aluminum cans, aspartame and artificial sweeteners, flu shots and silver dental fillings can increase the risk of the disease. So far, though, she said, there is no scientific evidence to support any of those.
She cited a cartoon of a woman walking into a living room holding a tape recorder, activating it to hear the message, "You came to get your glasses."
"I think we've all had those moments -- staring at the wall, 'Why'd I come in here?' and then we have the scary thought, 'Is this normal? Am I OK?'" she said.
She framed her remarks around the "normal parts of aging," suggesting that some elements of forgetfulness are to be expected and not necessarily a warning sign of dementia.
The financial ramifications of the disease are equally concerning, she said.
Comparing Alzheimer's and dementia to a corporation, she said its costs would exceed that of Walmart, whose annual revenue was estimated at $414 billion, and Exxon Mobil which grossed about $311 billion.
"The total estimated worldwide cost of dementia in 2010 was about $604 billion," she said, adding, "Numbers of people, numbers of dollars spent on the disease are expected to rise."
In 2013, she said, there were about five million Americans living with Alzheimer's disease and the number of people doubles every five years for those under 65.
"As we age our risk of disease increases," she said. "And by 2050, in the U.S. we expect to see about 14 million people, or a three-fold increase."
In North Carolina last year, she said there were approximately 61,000 people over the age of 85 with the disease.
But beyond what it costs in health care, are the "hidden costs," bringing the message really close to home -- the patient caregivers.
"We really don't put into account how much the value of a caregiver is worth in our medical costs," she said. "In 2013, it was estimated that 15.5 million family and friends provided over 17.7 billion hours of unpaid care to those with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, valued at over $220 billion, nearly eight times the total revenue of McDonald's in 2012.
"So people who are caring for people in the home for Alzheimer's disease, family and friends and loved ones, bear a significant burden of the costs in caring for these patients."
Wayne County has a support group for family members and caregivers, which meets the first Wednesday of the month at 10 a.m. at St. Paul United Methodist Church. For more information, contact Anne Paugh at 919-759-2267.
An educational enlightenment group, open to the public, meets every other Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at the senior center. Meetings for next month will be Sept. 10 and 24. For more information, call 919-242-6369.