September 21 is designated as World Alzheimer’s Day – a day on which Alzheimer’s organizations around the world concentrate their efforts on raising awareness about Alzheimer’s and dementia. Test your knowledge of some basic facts concerning this subject. Answer the following questions “true” or “false”, then check your answers below.

1. All Alzheimer’s is dementia, but not all dementia is Alzheimer’s.
2. Experts believe the number of Americans living with Alzheimer’s will decrease significantly in the coming years.
3. Alzheimer’s is often called a “family disease” because it is almost always hereditary.
4. Alzheimer’s is the only cause of death among the top 10 in the U.S. that cannot be prevented, cured or even slowed.
5. It is estimated that over five million Americans are now living with Alzheimer’s.
6. The most common early symptom is loss of long-term memory.
7. In later stages, disorientation, behavioral problems and loss of motivation are common.
8. Most people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s die within two years.
9. Ninety-five percent of all cases of this disease affect people age 65 and over.
10. It is estimated that almost 60% of people with Alzheimer’s live in the community and are cared for by unpaid family members or friends.
11. Alzheimer’s was first described by and later named for Aloise Alzheimer, a German psychiatrist and pathologist.
12. Men are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s more often than women.

Answers:

1. True. Alzheimer’s accounts for about 70% of all dementias. The second most common type is vascular dementia, which occurs after a stroke.
2. False. At current rates – and without a medical breakthrough – it is projected that Alzheimer’s will quadruple in those age 65 and over by the year 2050, from the current 5.1 million to 13.8 million.
3. False. It is often called a “family disease” because of the long-term stress that may affect everyone in the family. Most cases of Alzheimer’s are not inherited.
4. True. There is no prevention or cure; treatments do not stop or reverse progression, though they may improve symptoms.
5. True. Of those age 65 and older, it is estimated that 5.1 million people have Alzheimer’s. Almost 200,000 individuals under age 65 live with “early onset” Alzheimer’s.
6. False. Difficulty in remembering recent events (short-term memory loss) is the most common early symptom.
7. True. These symptoms often appear as the disease advances, along with mood swings, language difficulties, and inability to care for personal needs.
8. False. Progression of the disease varies but average life expectancy after diagnosis is three to nine years.
9. True. Before age 65 the disease is referred to as early-onset Alzheimer’s and accounts for about 5% of total cases.
10. True. However, this number may decrease significantly in the last stages of the disease as caregivers turn to live-in facilities for assistance.
11. True. This took placed in 1906 after this doctor examined the brain of a deceased patient who had exhibited “strange behavioral symptoms.”
12. False. Almost two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer’s are women. A woman’s life expectancy is almost five years longer than that of a man – and longevity is the leading risk factor for developing Alzheimer’s.

Did you learn something new that will help you in your role? Caregivers who are well-informed are more effective. Gaining knowledge of your loved-one’s condition – whether it is Alzheimer’s, another dementia or any illness – will make the challenging job of caregiving a little less daunting.