Alzheimer’s Association Constituent Services Vice President Beth Kallmyer said most people aren’t aware how lethal the brain disease is.

She pointed out the ailment kills more Americans than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined.

One in nine Americans over 65 has Alzheimer’s. The percentage rises to one in three for those 85 and over.

Shining the light on the disease further, she said women over 60 are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s than breast cancer. African-Americans get Alzheimer’s at twice the rate of whites and Hispanics 1.5 times more frequently than Caucasians.

Kallmyer said Alzheimer’s victims lose their ability to manage a budget while the natural lapse for an elderly person would just be to miss a monthly bill payment.

Explaining the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia, she said Alzheimer’s is just one type of brain function loss. Alzheimer’s is a disease while dementia just refers to gaps in the ability to think.

“Alzheimer’s not a normal part of aging,” Kallmyer said. She said the disease kills by stopping brain cells from communicating with each other.
 

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