CNN reported disturbing news today about women and Alzheimer’s disease. The new report shows women in their 60s are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s in their lifetime as they are breast cancer. That's only part of the dim outlook for women.
Alzheimer’s affects more than five million Americans and 2/3rds of them are women. Not only do more women develop the disease, more women are likely to be caregivers.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association 2014 facts and figures, women have a one-in-six chance of developing Alzheimer’s in their lifetime. Risk for men is one in 11. Women are also twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s compared with breast cancer.
Women also bear the bulk of the burden when it comes to providing care. The latest numbers show 60 percent of caregivers for people with Alzheimer’s are women.
Age is the greatest risk factor for gender differences among Alzheimer's patients, but it's not the only reason. Researchers are also looking at genetic and hormonal differences, according to Maria Carrillo, vice president of medical and scientific relations for the Alzheimer's Association.
As baby boomers age Alzheimer’s numbers are set to soar. There could be as many as 16 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s in the year 2050.
Next: Meet Dr. Mary Newport and find out the breakthrough discovery that she made to help her husband Steve, which posed the question, what if there was a cure...and no one knew? The answers can all be found in her second edition book, Alzheimer's Disease: What If There Was a Cure?
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