The Alzheimer's Association has released the 2010 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures report. This report details the escalation of Alzheimer's, which currently impacts over 5 million Americans. Facts and Figures conveys the burden of Alzheimer's and dementia on individuals, families, local and state government and the nation's healthcare system.
The most significant new information coming from this year's report: African-Americans and Hispanics are at higher risk for developing Alzheimer's. African-Americans are about twice as likely to have Alzheimer's than whites, and Hispanics are about 1.5 times more likely than whites to develop the disease. Although there appears to be no known genetic factor for these differences, the report examines the impact of health conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes, conditions that are prevalent in the African-American and Hispanic communities and how these conditions also increase Alzheimer risk. Another interesting aspect explored is the fact that although African-Americans and Hispanics have a higher rate of Alzheimer's than whites to have Alzheimer's and dementia, they are less likely than whites to have a diagnosis. The report examines the implications of this later diagnosis on families and healthcare costs.
Highlights of the report: http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_facts_figures.asp
Full report for download: http://www.alz.org/documents_custom/report_alzfactsfigures2010.pdf
Minnesota fact sheet: http://www.alz.org/documents_custom/ALZ_FF_Minnesota.pdf