The number of individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease is eye-opening. It is a very likely that you know someone with the disease, whether they are in your family, close social network, or community.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 5.3 million individuals in the United States are living with Alzheimer’s disease. This equates to Alzheimer’s affecting approximately 1 in 9 individuals over the age of 65 and 1 in 3 over the age of 85. In Wisconsin alone, it is estimated that there are about 110,000 individuals 65 and older living with the disease. These numbers are projected to increase with our aging population, unless we have advancements in Alzheimer’s research leading to treatments or prevention strategies.

Alzheimer’s disease is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States. At this time, it is the only cause of death in the top 10 that cannot be prevented, cured, or slowed. We need to be paying more attention to this disease. We need awareness, advocacy, and research to help develop support and advancements. We know people in our families, close social networks, and communities that we need to support.

If you are impacted by dementia and looking for more education and support, contact the Aging & Disability Resource Center of Southwest Wisconsin to get connected to the Dementia Care Specialist by calling 800-514-0066. Know you are not alone! There are many supports and resources available! (Reference: http://www.alz.org/facts/overview.asp)