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Alzheimer's & Dementia
Older Americans Fear Alzheimer's the Most, While
Most Adults Fear Cancer
MetLife survey finds
little planning for Alzheimer’s disease
May 31, 2006 – Most Americans fear cancer the most
and Alzheimer's disease second, but this flips for those age 55 and
older, where Alzheimer's is the disease they most fear, according to a
report issued this month - “MetLife Foundation Alzheimer’s Survey: What
America Thinks,” conducted by Harris Interactive.
Although adults fear getting Alzheimer’s disease
more than heart disease, stroke or diabetes, nearly nine out of 10 have
taken no steps to prepare for an illness that attacks nearly 50 percent
of those who live past age 85, the survey finds.
The survey also found that more than a third of
U.S. adults have a family member or friend who has Alzheimer’s, and
three out of five are concerned that they may someday have to provide
for or care for someone with the mind-robbing disease.
Other major findings in the MetLife Foundation
survey are that almost three-quarters of Americans say they know very
little or nothing about Alzheimer’s, although 93 percent are at least
aware of the disease.
Eight out of 10 think it is important to plan ahead
for the possibility of getting Alzheimer’s – but 83 percent have taken
no steps to prepare for the possibility of Alzheimer’s. For example:
more than half (58 percent) report that they have not designated anyone
to take care of their affairs if they were to get Alzheimer’s disease.
“Our survey clearly shows that although adults fear
Alzheimer's and the devastating effects it has on individuals, families
and communities, few have done anything to prepare for a disease that
destroys a person's memory, personality and ability to function
independently,” said Sibyl Jacobson, president and CEO of MetLife
Foundation.
“The greatest risk factor in Alzheimer's is age,
and, as Americans live longer, the threat of Alzheimer's will continue
to increase.”
MetLife Foundation has been a leading advocate for
Alzheimer’s disease research for the past 20 years and presents annual
awards in support of leading-edge research on Alzheimer’s disease. The
Foundation’s historical role in supporting Alzheimer’s research and its
emphasis on issues related to aging, prompted the Foundation to
commission a survey of the public on Alzheimer’s.
The survey explores the public’s knowledge, fears
and plans for the possibility of developing Alzheimer’s. The “MetLife
Foundation Alzheimer’s Survey: What America Thinks” was conducted by
Harris Interactive for MetLife Foundation. The survey was conducted by
telephone within the United States between January 19 and 22, 2006 among
1,008 adults (aged 18 and over). Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity
and region were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with
their actual proportions in the population.
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Alzheimer’s disease is the second most feared
illness in America, behind cancer (38 percent). However, adults aged 55
and older fear getting Alzheimer’s even more than cancer. When people
are asked to name the disease they are most afraid of getting from a
list of illnesses, one out of five (20 percent) pick Alzheimer’s, while
only 14 percent name heart disease and 13 percent are concerned about
stroke.
The fear of Alzheimer’s is more pronounced for
women and for those 55 and older:
● 23 percent of women versus 17 percent of men
worry about Alzheimer’s.
● 31 percent of older Americans rank the disease at
the top compared to 14 percent of those who are younger.
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Currently, 4.5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s,
a number that is expected to nearly quadruple to 16 million by 2050,
according to the Alzheimer’s Association. One in 10 people over 65 have
the disease; the rate is closer to 50 percent for those over 85.
The Alzheimer’s Association and the National
Institute on Aging estimate the cost of current care exceeds $100
billion annually.
With the aging of America’s population these
numbers are sure to become even more dramatic in the future, making it
imperative that individuals and institutions plan for the future. The
growing number of older people, many with Alzheimer’s will have an
impact on every part of society.
There are a number of resources for more info on
Alzheimer's and care giving issues. They include:
• www.alz.org –
Alzheimer’s Association
• www.alzfdn.org – Alzheimer’s Foundation of America
•
www.caregiving.org – National Alliance for Caregiving
•
www.nfcacares.org – National Family Caregivers Association
•
www.pbs.org/theforgetting – The Forgetting: A Portrait of Alzheimer’s
The full report on the survey can be found at
www.metlife.org
About MetLife Foundation
MetLife Foundation was established in 1976 by
MetLife "to carry on its long-standing tradition of corporate
contributions and community involvement." MetLife and MetLife Foundation
have invested more than $15 million for Alzheimer’s research and public
information programs, including $10 million through the Awards for
Medical Research program. MetLife Foundation also sponsored the
Emmy-award winning PBS documentary, The Forgetting: A Portrait of
Alzheimer’s. Working with the Alzheimer’s Association, the Foundation
has supported caregiving videos, resources for the Hispanic community
and the Safe Return identification program, which addresses the problem
of senior wandering.
The Foundation has expanded its focus on aging
issues, including helping people remain physically and mentally fit and
remaining engaged in the community. It also supports programs addressing
issues of caregiving, intergenerational activities and volunteer
opportunities. Grants support health, education, and civic and cultural
programs. More information about MetLife Foundation is available at
www.metlife.org.
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