Dementia prevalence and cost to the nation: forecast

This is an analysis of the Health and Retirement Study by RAND, an authoritative source.  Here are the highlights:

• 14.7 percent of the population aged 70 years or older: dementia prevalence
• Characteristics associated with a higher prevalence of dementia include: nonwhite race, female, single status, older, less education, lower income, more limitations in activities of daily living, history of stroke or heart disease or mental illness
• $109 billion direct cost of care in 2010
• $157 billion to $215 billion total cost of care in 2010
• Projections of costs to 2040 are included

Source: Hurd, M.D., and others.  Monetary costs of dementia in the United States.  The New England Journal of Medicine;368(14):1326-1334, Apr. 4, 2013.  Click here for article: http://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJMsa1204629 Posted by AHA Resource Center, (312) 422-2050, rc@aha.org