In the News

Alzheimer's Disease on the Rise in America

The Alzheimer's Association recently released a report that included new estimates of the incidence of Alzheimer's in the U.S. More than five million Americans have the disease, a 10 percent increase from the last official estimate five years ago. The number is expected to triple by 2050, unless medical science can come up with a cure. The new estimate is not based on new research, but instead synthesizes existing research on the prevalence and costs of the disease.

According to the report, Alzheimer's afflicts one in eight people aged 65 and older, and nearly half (42 percent) of people aged 65 and older. The costs to society are nearly as startling. Care for a patient with dementia costs three times as much as care for the average Medicare beneficiary ($13,207 a year vs. $4,454) and overall dementia-related Medicare costs are expected to more than double by 2015, to $189 billion. The value of unpaid family caregivers taking care of dementia patients in their homes should not be underestimated, as recent estimates have put that figure in the hundreds of billions of dollars per year. Read More

Yet Another Reason to Exercise: Preventing Debilitating Falls and Injuries

One in three adults over the age of 65 experiences a fall each year. In 2004, the most recent year for which statistics are available, almost 15,000 people 65 and older died from falls, and roughly 1.9 million were treated for injuries in emergency rooms. This month, the National Athletic Trainers' Association and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons have launched a joint campaign to combat the problem. While home modifications such as night lights, bathroom grab bars, and slip-resistant floors can help, the organizations say the single most important thing seniors can do to prevent falls is to exercise.

As we age, we lose bone density. But experts say that certain kinds of exercise, such as strength training, can help reduce this loss while at the same time increasing muscle strength, thus further increasing resistance to falls. Also, since falls are usually due to loss of balance, exercises that focus on improving balance such as yoga and tai chi can be invaluable. For this same reason, it's important to review your medications with your doctor each year to look for drug interactions that might cause dizziness or loss of balance. Read More

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