Deaths from Alzheimer’s in America have soared 55 percent since 1999, as the burden of this fatal form of dementia grows and the population ages, a CDC report reveals.
The study, published on Thursday in the agency’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, spanned 1999 to 2014.
It also revealed an increasing number of Alzheimer’s deaths occurring at home, rising from 14 percent to 25 percent.
But most Alzheimer’s deaths – 54 percent – still occur in a nursing home or long-term care facility.
Experts say the data shows more caregivers are needed, along with more resources to help people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, degenerative disease of the brain. A build-up of abnormal proteins causes nerve cells to die. This disrupts the transmitters that carry messages, and causes the brain to shrink.As brain cells die, the functions they provide are lost. That includes memory, orientation and the ability to think and reason. The progress of the disease is slow and gradual. On average, patients live five to seven years after diagnosis, but some may live for ten to 15 years.Becoming anxious and frustrated over inability to make sense of the world… …This can lead to aggressive behaviorMay have problems eating and drinking The majority will eventually need 24-hour care With ordinary age-related forgetfulness, you will still remember details associated with the thing they’ve forgotten.For example, you may forget your neighbor’s name in conversation, but you still know that person is your neighbor.
‘Millions of Americans and their family members are profoundly affected by Alzheimer’s disease,’ said CDC Acting Director Anne Schuchat.
‘As the number of older Americans with Alzheimer’s disease rises, more family members are taking on the emotionally and physically challenging role of caregiver than ever before. These families need and deserve our support.’
There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia.
Alzheimer’s accounted for 3.6 percent of all US deaths in 2014.
Researchers have long predicted increased cases of Alzheimer’s as more of the nation’s baby boom generation passes the age of 65, putting them at higher risk for the age-related disease.
The number of U. S. residents aged 65 and older living with Alzheimer’s is expected to nearly triple to 13.8 million by 2050.
And medical advances make them less likely to die from other diseases.
More than five million people in the United States are living with Alzheimer’s, and that number could balloon to 16 million by 2050, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
‘Age is the greatest risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease,’ said the CDC report.
‘Most adults with the disease are 65 years or older.’
Death from Alzheimer’s typically arises from complications related to the disease.
The disease itself is an incurable degenerative condition, which kills cells in the brain.
It can last for 15 to 20 years, but the most advanced stages usually last around two years.
Over time, patients lose their natural reflexes that keep us alive, such as swallowing, coughing, and breathing.
They also lose their appetite, their speech, and their ability to move independently.
The most common cause of death is aspiration pneumonia, which can lead to a seizure or a stroke.
This can be caused by a patient forgetting to chew or losing the ability to swallow, inhaling food instead.
The food or liquid then deposits itself in the lungs, which should normally only contain oxygen.
A healthy body could shift the food with a strong cough.
However, Alzheimer’s patients may have a decreased level of consciousness alerting them to do this.
Another common cause of death is heart attack.
As Alzheimer’s patients lose their ability to move freely, they often become bedbound.
This can lead to blood clots and poor heart health, which drives up the risk of a coronary arrest.
The third most common cause of death is from a common infection.
Alzheimer’s patients become more and more susceptible to infections as they lose weight due to loss of appetite and lose strength due to loss of movement.
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