Can You Answer 5 Questions About Alzheimer's Disease?

According to the Alzheimer's Association, an estimated 6.5 million Americans ages 65 and older are currently living with Alzheimer's disease. This number will only increase as the U.S. population 65 years old and older continues to grow. To better understand the impact of Alzheimer's, physicians and other medical professionals should stay up to date on the latest statistics. Here are five questions to test your knowledge on neurodegenerative disease.

1. Of the total U.S. population, about how many people ages 65 and older have Alzheimer's dementia in 2022?

   1. 1 in 7 people
   2. 1 in 9 people
   3. 1 in 11 people
   See Answer

   B. About 1 in 9 people ages 65 and older in the U.S. is living with Alzheimer's disease, according to this 2022 special report from the Alzheimer's Association. This percentage increases with age, though people younger than 65 can also develop Alzheimer's dementia.

2. Of the 6.5 million Americans ages 65 and older with Alzheimer's, how many are women?

   1. 2 million
   2. 3.5 million
   3. 4 million
   See Answer

   C. According to the 2022 special report, four million Americans living with Alzheimer's disease are women. The risk of Alzheimer's increases with advancing age and, on average, women tend to live longer than men.

3. Alzheimer's is deadlier than which two cancers combined?

   1. breast cancer and prostate cancer
   2. liver cancer and leukemia
   3. colorectal cancer and pancreatic cancer
   See Answer

   A. Alzheimer's disease kills more people in the U.S. than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. According to the report from the Alzheimer's Association, it is the fifth-leading cause of death among individuals ages 65 and older.

4. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to what percent increase in Alzheimer's and dementia deaths?

   1. 12% increase
   2. 17% increase
   3. 20% increase
   See Answer

   B. While the impact of COVID-19 on Alzheimer's and dementia mortality rates is still being assessed, in 2020, there were 44,729 more deaths from all dementias, including Alzheimer's, according to the special report. This is 17% more than expected.

5. By 2050, the number of people ages 65+ with Alzheimer's is projected to reach ___?

   1. 12.7 million
   2. 15.2 million
   3. 18.3 million
   See Answer

   A. In the absence of a medical breakthrough to prevent or slow Alzheimer's, if not outright cure the disease, the number of Americans ages 65 and older with Alzheimer's is projected to reach 12.7 million by 2050, according to the Alzheimer's Association 2022 report.

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