Thursday, April 28, 2011

New report, "Generation Alzheimer's," studies impact on baby boomer generation



A new report released by the Alzheimer's Association studies the impact of Alzheimer's Disease as another generation reaches its senior years.

The report, "Generation Alzheimer's: The Defining Disease of the Baby Boomers," highlights the fact that the first wave of baby boomers is now reaching the age of 65. As a new generation of Americans gets older, the Alzheimer's Association is stressing the need for an increased sense of urgency, spreading the word about the disease, and encouraging elected officials to increase funding for medical research.

The following is a brief discussion about the report.

via The Alzheimer's Association:
This year, the first wave of baby boomers are turning 65 – and with increased age comes increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

Our new report, "Generation Alzheimer's: The Defining Disease of the Baby Boomers," sheds light on a crisis that is no longer emerging – but here.

Many baby boomers will spend their retirement years either with Alzheimer's or caring for someone who has it.

An estimated 10 million baby boomers will develop Alzheimer's.

Starting this year, more than 10,000 baby boomers a day will turn 65. As these baby boomers age, one of out of eight of them will develop Alzheimer’s – a devastating, costly, heartbreaking disease. Increasingly for these baby boomers, it will no longer be their grandparents and parents who have Alzheimer’s – it will be them.

"Alzheimer’s is a tragic epidemic that has no survivors. Not a single one," said Harry Johns, president and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association. "It is as much a thief as a killer. Alzheimer’s will darken the long-awaited retirement years of the one out of eight baby boomers who will develop it. Those who will care for these loved ones will witness, day by day, the progressive and relentless realities of this fatal disease. But we can still change that if we act now."

You can get more information and learn more about this study by visiting the Alzheimer's Association.

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