March 19, 2014
USA Today (3/19, Weintraub) reports that according to a report (pdf) released March 18 by the Alzheimer’s Association on its website, “Alzheimer’s takes a disproportionate toll on women.” The report found that “women are far more likely to develop the fatal disease than men: one in six women over 65 will get it during their lifetime, compared with one in 11 men.” What’s more, “women are more likely to be caregivers for someone with Alzheimer’s, and to pay a bigger personal and professional price for that care than men do.”
CNN (3/19, Goldschmidt) explains that “age is the greatest risk factor for gender differences among Alzheimer’s patients, but it’s not the only reason.” Scientists “are also looking at genetic and hormonal differences, according to Maria Carrillo, vice president of medical and scientific relations for the Alzheimer’s Association.” Currently, two-thirds of the “five million Americans” affected by Alzheimer’s are women.
The NBC News (3/19, Fox, Edwards) website reports that in putting together the report, the Alzheimer’s Association “analyzed data from federal health surveys, the Census Bureau, National Alliance for Caregiving, AARP and its own poll of 3,000 people.”
Time (3/19, Park) points out the overall economic implications of the report’s conclusions, writing that this year, “Americans will spend $214 billion to care for patients with Alzheimer’s.” In 2050, when it is projected that “16 million people will be living with Alzheimer’s disease,” that amount may reach as much as $1.2 trillion.
The Dayton (OH) Daily News (3/19, Moss) reports that the “2014 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures Report” also reveals that “women in their 60s are about twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease over the rest of their lives as they are breast cancer.”
Article courtesy American Medical Association
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