Huge cost of Alzheimer’s

Today is World Alzheimer’s Day, set aside by Alzheimer associations around the world to concentrate on raising awareness about dementia. There are an estimated 24 million people around the world who currently have dementia.

Alzheimer’s is one of the costliest maladies draining insurance companies and family savings. And because the medical community is now able to help us live longer lives, the number of Alzheimer’s sufferers is increasing at an alarming rate.

In June 1999, Rep. Ed Markey, Massachusetts Democrat, and Rep. Chris Smith, New Jersey Republican, joined as co-chairs of the Bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease, a task force that continues providing an immeasurable degree of leadership.

Sens. Hillary Clinton, New York Democrat, and Susan Collins, Maine Republican, head the Senate effort. Both are active, vigorous and conscientious advocates.

Congressional committees responsible for funding Alzheimer’s research and treatment projects voted to limit or decrease most projects in the budget now under consideration on Capitol Hill.

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder that gradually destroys a memory and ability to learn, reason, make judgments, communicate and carry out daily activities. As Alzheimer’s progresses, individuals may also experience changes in personality and behavior, such as anxiety, suspiciousness or agitation, as well as delusions or hallucinations.

Because Alzheimer’s is a disease, a malfunction if you will, in the brain, patients and their families often experience difficulty in properly diagnosing the disease and getting treatment. While doctors often rely heavily on the patient’s complaints to diagnose other diseases, a patient with Alzheimer’s may be unable or reluctant to describe his or her own confusion and distress.

Add to that, the patient may be reclusive, untrusting and/or overly proud. The patient may suffer through long days of confusion and misinterpretation, only to rally in front of the doctor and hide any hint of disability.

My friend Ron may be the classic example of Alzheimer’s disease running amok in a sufferer both confused and no longer able to routinely make rational decisions others take for granted. He is not only unable to make the decisions; he agonizes over simple decisions for days or weeks at a time.

And Alzheimer’s disease sufferers can be dangerous, in extreme cases, to themselves and others. Ron has had three recent car accidents. His insurance policy was revoked. But, unable to properly self-diagnose and afraid a doctor might recommend he stop driving, Ron, like untold numbers of others, retains his license, continues to drive, and found new, though more expensive, insurance coverage.

We experienced the agony of Alzheimer’s in our own family. My mother progressed over several years from exhibiting slightly odd behavior to the stage we all most fear. She became almost a totally different person. She became both difficult to care for and hard to love. She eventually needed full time nursing home care: a costly proposition even for the well-heeled and adequately insured.

Fortunately, there is lots of help available. Help groups, seminars and treatment opportunities abound. In my county, for example, people over age 65 can ride a taxi almost anywhere for $1 so nobody who feels unsafe doing so needs to drive.

What are the costs of a progressive brain disease on an aging society?

At the 10th International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders (ICAD), in Madrid in July 2006, Dr. Anders Wimo of the Stockholm Gerontology Research Center and Aging Research Center at Karolinska Institute, Sweden, said worldwide costs of dementia care (combined direct and informal costs) is around $248 billion annually. This overlooks the fact many suffer the ill effects and still receive no care and that our aging population is growing at a breathtaking rate.

“These startling cost estimates for Alzheimer’s care clearly illustrate the great challenges faced by both families and our national health-care systems as the number of people with Alzheimer’s continues to grow,” said William Thies, Alzheimer’s Association vice president of medical and scientific relations. “Increasing the funding for Alzheimer’s research into early detection, better treatment and prevention is critical to curbing this impending world health disaster. We can fund research now or wait for Alzheimer’s to overwhelm the health systems in the U.S. and throughout the world.”

Story Continues →