Dementia
It is a collective term used to describe various
symptoms of cognitive decline, such as forgetfulness. It is a symptom of
several underlying diseases and brain disorders. Dementia is not a single disease in itself, but a general
term to describe symptoms of impairment in memory, communication, and thinking.
While the likelihood of having dementia increases with age, it is not a normal
part of aging.
Statistics
An analysis of the most recent census estimates that 4.7
million people aged 65 years or older in the United States were living with
Alzheimer's disease in 2010. The Alzheimer's Association estimates that:
- Just over a tenth of people aged 65 years or more have Alzheimer's disease
- This proportion rises to about a third of people aged 85 and older
- Alzheimer's accounts for 60-80 percent of all cases of dementia
Fast Facts on Dementia
- There are an estimated 47.5 million dementia sufferers worldwide
- One new case of dementia is diagnosed every 4 seconds
- Dementia mostly affects older people but is not a normal part of aging
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