Alzheimer’s Disease is the most common form of dementia, however many people don’t see it as the major life-threatening disease that it is. Many only see it as a disease of the very old, which is far from the truth. Alzheimer’s ranks up there with other major health issues, like diabetes and strokes, in the number of deaths it causes every year, yet it’s not on our health radar like heart disease or cancer. The truth of the matter is that Alzheimer’s exacts a horrible toll on sufferers, their families, and society as a whole. Test your knowledge of Alzheimer’s, learn the facts and statistics of the illness, and help spread the word to help end this terrible disease.
Alzheimer’s is which place as the leading cause of death in the United States?
A. Sixth
B. Seventh
C. Ninth
D. Eleventh
Fill-in-the-blank: Today _________ million American live with Alzheimer’s, and that number is expected to be __________ million by 2050.
A. 2.3/4.9
B. 3.8/5.6
C. 5.7/14
D. 6.2/10
What is the ratio of seniors that will die with either Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia?
A. One in three
B. Two out of five
C. Three out of five
D. Four in seven
While deaths from heart disease have decreased by 11% from 2000 to 2015, deaths from Alzheimer’s have done which of the following?
A. Also decreased by about 11%
B. Stayed at the same rate
C. Increased by 11%
D. Increased by 123%
E. None of the Above
True or False? While the majority of Alzheimer’s sufferers are 65 years old or older, approximately 200,000 Alzheimer’s sufferers have younger-onset Alzheimer’s.
Which factors increase the risk for developing Alzheimer’s? (Choose all that apply)
A. Age. The older you are, the more the risk increases.
B. Gender. Women are more likely than men to develop Alzheimer’s.
C. Race. Both African-Americans and Hispanic Americans are more likely than Caucasian Americans to develop Alzheimer’s disease.
D. All of the Above
Fill-in-the-Blank: Every _____________, another American develops Alzheimer’s disease.
A. Hour
B. Forty minutes
C. Five mines
D. 65 seconds
E. None of the Above
True or False? Almost two thirds of Alzheimer’s sufferers are men.
For those without Alzheimer’s at age 70, 30 percent will die before reaching the age of 80. What is the percentage of those who are 70 years old and have Alzheimer’s that will die before reaching 80 years old?
A. 35 percent
B. 50 percent
C. 61 percent
D. 90 percent
What is the total cost to the American society to care for those with Alzheimer’s?
A. 133 million
B. 189 million
C. 200 billion
D. 277 billion
E. None of the Above
Resources: Information provided by The Alzheimer’s Association.
ANSWERS:
- A. Sixth. Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S., and the fifth leading cause of death of adults over the age of 65.
- C. 5.7/14. Today, 5.7 million Americans have Alzheimer’s, and it’s expected that 14 million will have it by 2050.
- A. One in three. One out of every three seniors will die with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia in the U.S.
- D. Increased by 123%. While death rates from other leading causes of death are decreasing, the number of death certificates listing ‘Alzheimer’s disease’ as the cause of death have increased by 123% from 2000 to 2015.
- True. There are 200,000 Americans suffering from younger-onset Alzheimer’s, which strikes before the age of 65.
- D. All of the Above. Factors that increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s include aging, being a woman, and being African-American or Hispanic-American.
- D. 65 seconds. Every minute and five seconds, another American develops Alzheimer’s disease in this country.
- False. More women than men suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, with women accounting for two out of every three Alzheimer’s sufferers.
- C. 61 percent. Having Alzheimer’s disease doubles the chances that a 70-year-old sufferer will not make it to age 80.
- D. 277 billion. The total cost of Alzheimer’s disease to our society—including $186 billion in Medicare and Medicaid payments—is over a quarter of a trillion dollars at $277 billion dollars. That number is expected to climb to $1.1 trillion by 2050.
