Submitted by The Central Illinois Alzheimer’s Chapter
“Nearly 60 percent of people worldwide incorrectly believe that Alzheimer’s disease is a typical part of aging.”
Alzheimer’s is a fatal, progressive disease impacting at least 44 million people worldwide yet it is widely misunderstood. According to an Alzheimer’s Association 12-country survey, 59 percent of people surveyed believe incorrectly that Alzheimer’s disease is a typical part of aging and 40 percent of people believe that Alzheimer’s is not fatal. During the inaugural Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month this past June, the Alzheimer’s Association initiated a global conversation about the Alzheimer’s crisis and asking people around the world to use their brains to fight the disease.
The survey also found that 37 percent of people surveyed incorrectly believe that you have to have a family history to be at risk for Alzheimer’s disease. The Alzheimer’s Association 2014 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report released in March found that nearly a quarter of Americans hold the same mistaken belief, despite advancing age being the greatest risk factor for Alzheimer’s.
Alzheimer’s is a devastating disease that slowly robs people of their independence and eventually their lives. When asked what disease or condition they were most afraid of a loved one getting, a third of the people selected Alzheimer’s. When considering health priorities, 96 percent of people surveyed said that being self-sufficient and not depending on others — inevitability as Alzheimer’s disease progresses — is important.
The misconceptions about the disease are not just a global issue. According to the 2014 State of Illinois Alzheimer’s Disease Survey, conducted in the spring, fewer than 5 percent of respondents thought Illinois is doing enough to address Alzheimer’s; despite its soaring prevalence, Alzheimer’s disease is still largely misunderstood.
A total of 1161 people responded to the 2014 survey with responses coming from 61 different Illinois counties. Of the 44 million people worldwide living with Alzheimer’s disease or another related dementia, 210,000 are in Illinois.
In its efforts to make Illinois a dementia capable state, the Alzheimer’s Association asked if people were familiar with the programs Illinois has to offer. For the past two years, fewer than half of the survey respondents were familiar with programs and services offered by the state for individuals with Alzheimer’s and their families.
More than half of the respondents stated that their parents have Alzheimer’s or a related dementia, and that number is expected to rise as time goes on. Unless something is done to change its course, the number of people who have Alzheimer’s in Illinois is expected to soar to 260,000 by the year 2050. The results of this survey will guide the Alzheimer’s Association and others when making recommendations to Illinois legislators and state agencies regarding Illinois’ response to the growing health crisis of Alzheimer’s disease.
For a complete breakdown of the 2014 Alzheimer’s disease State Plan Survey and other resources, visit www.alz.org/Illinoiscentral. For local help or further questions, please call 309-681-1100.
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