Alzheimers Disease World Statistics - Essay Example

Research: Part According to the study, Alzheimer’s caused the approximately a fifth of most years of life lost in developed countries of the total causes of early death in 2013. The illness is the main source of the premature loss of life in approximately 44 nations in the Caribbean, North America, across Europe and Latin America. Alzheimers, as well as other different dementias, caused the third-biggest number of unexpected loss of lives in Canada, Finland, and Israel, after lung disease and ischemic heart disease (IHD) in Canada and Israel and stroke and IHD in Finland (www.nia.nih.gov). Also, the study found out that Alzheimer’s, as well as other dementias, were responsible for approximately 3% of all deaths globally in 2013. However, in many countries it is responsible for more than 10% of all deaths in 2013. For instance, in Finland it caused 13% of deaths, in Iceland (10.9%), Italy (11.4%), Switzerland (10.8%), the US (10.5%) and Canada (10.8%) (healthdata.org). A critical look at the total deaths reveals a better understanding of the countries that has the biggest share of the Alzheimer’s global deaths. According to the study, nations with the biggest number of loss of life because of Alzheimer’s in 2013 were geographically varied however most of them come from the higher-wage classification. For instance, in 2013, the US, China, and India all had more than 100,000 deaths; while Germany, Japan, Brazil, United Kingdom, Italy, Russia, and Spain all had more than 40,000 Alzheimers deaths in the same year (www.nia.nih.gov). Also, middle-income nations in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, as well as everywhere else carry an increasingly huge burden due to Alzheimer’s deaths. Further, in 2013, Indonesia, Mexico, Turkey, Ukraine, Vietnam, Thailand, Argentina, Iran, Pakistan, Poland, and Bangladesh all had more than 10,000 losses of life due to Alzheimer’s (healthdata.org). The main factor that drives India and China to the top with regards to the total deaths due to Alzheimer’s is their high populations. This is because in 2013, Alzheimer’s as well as other dementias, in fact, resulted in a small percentage of deaths in both countries, for instance, only over 2% in China, as well as about 1% in India) (healthdata.org). Part 2: Currently, over five million Americans are suffering from Alzheimer disease, out of which 200,000 are below 65 years. The deaths of people from the disease have shown an upward trend although the deaths from other major illnesses such as HIV, stroke and heart disease has continued to experience significant reduction. For instance, between 2000 and 2010, the deaths due to Alzheimer have increased by 68 percent (www.nia.nih.gov). Taking care of individuals suffering from Alzheimers will be very expensive to all taxpayers. It will cost approximately $20 trillion from Medicare, Medicaid, people, private protection and HMOs throughout the following 40 years, an amount that is sufficient to pay off the entire federal’s debt and still send a $10,000 check to each man, woman and child in America. It is estimated that by 2012 will have spent about $200 billion in direct expenses for individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s, incorporating $140 billion in expenses, inclusive of $140 billion in costs to Medicare and Medicaid (healthdata.org). The average Medicare costs per individual for those with Alzheimers as well as different dementias are three times higher than the individuals without these conditions while the average Medicaid spending per senior is 19 times higher (.alz.org). Part 3: An essential purpose of these expenses is that Alzheimer disease makes it much more expensive to treat other sicknesses because the disease makes individuals suffering from it to have one or more co-morbidity hence complicating the administration or the management of the condition(s) thereby resulting in the rise in costs. For instance, a senior that is suffering from Alzheimer’s and diabetes normally costs Medicare 81 percent more than a senior who is just suffering from diabetes alone (healthdata.org). About 30 percent of individuals who have Alzheimers or another dementia tends to have both the Medicare and Medicaid coverage; however, only 11 percent of people who do not have the disease have both Medicare and Medicaid. It has also been found that Alzheimer’s disease is highly prevalent in nursing homes as more than 64 percent of Medicare holders live with the disease. It is estimated that, by 2050, the total cost of Alzheimer’s will be $1.1 trillion (in today’s dollars) unless something is done. The increase in expenses to Medicare as well Medicaid will be about 500 percent while the out-of-pocket costs will increase by approximately 400 percent (www.nia.nih.gov). Just like with many diseases, Alzheimer’s causes suffering to both the individuals with it as well as to the caregivers and families. For instance, unpaid care valued at more than $210 billion was provided by approximately 15.2 million family members and friends in 2011. This is because it takes longer, the last longer and is more intrusive and personal to take care of a person who has Alzheimer’s. Caring for them takes a heavy toll on the caregivers’ health. Approximately over 60 percent of caregivers of Alzheimers and dementia rated the emotional stress of caregiving as high or very high. However, 33 percent of them reported signs and symptoms of depression. Taking care of such patients also tend to affect negatively employment, health or wellbeing, family finance and income. In 2011, the caregivers of Alzheimer’s and dementia had $8.7 billion in extra health costs because of the emotional as well as physical toll of providing care for their wellbeing or health (healthdata.org). Likewise, the numbers of the loss of lives due to Alzheimers and different dementias are not decreasing in any nation even though we can expect that the extent or proportion affected by dementia will keep on growing as populations in each country age. Therefore, governments will have to get ready for the increasing requirement for programs and services for individuals with dementia. Countries in the whole world will be able to begin monitoring how their populations are being influenced by this sickness due to the regular updates to the Global Burden of Disease study (healthdata.org) There are different routes in which the examination displayed can be advantageous for a person with Alzheimers as well as to their friends and families. Early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s can emotionally, economically and physically benefit or profit patients suffering from the disease. It is very vital that the right course of treatment be actualized once the diagnosis is made so as to postpone further brain deterioration and moderate the onset of manifestations (Bethune, 26). The most evident way that a person with Alzheimers can benefit is financial (healthdata.org). The diagnosis, as well as treatment of Alzheimers disease, can be very expensive, but the diagnosis would provide the patient with an opportunity to make future arrangements. In the event that the risks of contracting Alzheimers was found before the appearance of signs and symptoms, long-term care protection could be obtained, radically diminishing the amount of cash required for living and restorative or medical expenses (www.nia.nih.gov). Another financial advantage is the capacity to begin sparing cash to cover costs not paid by Medicare and other protection arrangements. By instructing grown-ups about the alternatives accessible after retirement, the Alzheimers ailment’s financial burden can be decreased. People should understand the significance of getting ready for the future before the presence of a genuine disease. Also, early diagnosis benefits the patient personally. Each person has life goals and objectives; however because of the weakening manifestations of Alzheimers illness and dementia, patients will most likely be unable to accomplish them. Early diagnosis followed with treatment provides people with an opportunity to make future life plans and realize their goals before the illness advances. As a rule, Alzheimers patients dont have the chance to settle on choices before serious intellectual side effects show up (healthdata.org). This obligation frequently tumbles to the kids. New diagnostic techniques like MRI and PET scans can permit older adults to choose their course of treatment as well as living arrangements before the advancement of the disease. It includes writing wills and advanced directives for the wishes of the patient to be regarded and honoured in spite of their cognitive state. The patient can likewise make living plans, for example, picking which LTC office or home health agency to use later on (www.nia.nih.gov). Part 4: Cholinesterase inhibitor, which is the first type, helps in hindering the enzyme that is in charge of the breakdown of acetylcholine in the brain. However, the Acetylcholine is an important neurotransmitter that is greatly involved in learning and memory. But, the acetylcholine concentration is slightly reduced by normal aging thereby causing periodic forgetfulness. Alzheimers disease, however, cause the reduction in the concentration by as much as ninety percent, bringing about huge memory and behavioural decrease. The main function of these drugs is to support communication between nerve cells thus increasing the concentration of acetylcholine. Currently, there are three cholinesterase inhibitors that are regularly prescribed namely donepezil, galantamine, and rivastigmine. One needs to understand the communication network in the brain so as to be able to understand fully how Alzheimers medications work (healthdata.org). Part 5; It is highly likely that one should investigate any other potential interactions between the patient’s medications so as to identify the probable causes of adverse effects to behaviour or psychiatric health. Medications may be needed in case these interventions fail to improve the symptoms. There are various medications that could be picked relying upon the side effects. For instance, antidepressants such as Prozac or Zoloft can be prescribed in case a patient is encountering or experiencing depression while hallucinations can be reduced using antipsychotics and anxiolytics may be taken to lessen anxiety (www.nia.nih.gov). Part 6: A study into the differences in ages and population growth across nations provides insights into how they are performing about each other as far as the increasing burden of the disease is concerned. In 2013, countries with the most noteworthy Alzheimers death rates included the US, Uruguay and Finland as they had over 45 deaths per 100,000 individuals. Although the increase in death rates caused by the disease is happening everywhere, the developing countries as the regions with the biggest relative increments in Alzheimers death rates. For instance, between 1990 and 2013, the regions that had more than 200 percent increase included Dominican Republic, Cambodia, Singapore, Eritrea, Nicaragua, Afghanistan, Thailand, Venezuela, Niger as well as and South Korea (healthdata.org). Site: North Karelia, the easternmost province of Finland that borders Russia for almost 300km while Virmajärvi is found in Ilomantsi and lies further east than Istanbul in Turkey (www.vaellus.info). Having a fairly continental climate, North Karelia has a difference between normal summer temperature and normal winter temperatures of 26-27 degrees Celsius while Joensuu, the average annual temperature is just +2,5 C in Joensuu, however, in the summer the temperature can climb as high as above 30C (www.vaellus.info). July is the warmest summer month, and December-February is the coldest months. The region’s total annual precipitation is about 20 inches or 50 centimetres and because half of its falls as snow, the snow cover tends to be approximately two feet (60 centimetres). However, the province’s northern parts normally get permanent snow cover by around mid-November while the southern parts get the snow cover soon after that (www.vaellus.info). The ski season in the region begins in October though on artificial snow, but the 22 kilometres ski trail that is the longest lighted across the nation begins from Koli. By around the end of April, the snow begins to melt from open areas as well as from shady forests around ten days after that (www.vaellus.info). References "Alzheimers Disease Fact Sheet | National Institute on Aging." Insert Name of Site in Italics. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2015 . "Current Treatments, Alzheimers & Dementia | Research Center ..." Insert Name of Site in Italics.N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2015 "A closer look at Alzheimer’s disease worldwide | Institute ..." Insert Name of Site in Italics.N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2015 . North Karelia - Vaellus." Insert Name of Site in Italics. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2015 . Read More