Disease is a progressive brain disorder marked by an irreversible decline in intellectual abilities and by changes in behavior and personality. The disease can span between three and twenty years and ultimately leaves patients incapable of caring for themselves. As a result, Alzheimer s Disease has a profound effect on the millions of family members and other loved ones who provide most of the care for people with the disease. Approximately 19 million people have a family member who suffers from dementia. One in 10 people over 65 and nearly half of those over 85 have Alzheimer s.
Families pay most of that cost themselves.
At least one-third of that is for loved ones with Alzheimer s.