Overview
Americans fear Alzheimer's disease more than any ilnes other than cancer-and for older people, concerns about Alzheimer's outrank even cancer. More than a third of al Americans know a family member or friend who has Alzheimer's, and nearly two-thirds of Americans believe they wil have to provide care someday for someone with Alzheimer's. These are just some of the results from a January 206 MetLife Foundation/Haris Interactive pol of American adults.
Key Information
The survey, found in "MetLife Foundation Alzheimer's Survey: What America Thinks," included questions about how people view Alzheimer's disease, what they know about it and what they are doing to plan for a future that may include the deadly ilnes. A progresive brain disorder that science has yet to defeat, Alzheimer's gradualy destroys a person's memory and ability to reason, comunicate and function.
Curently, 4.5 milion Americans have Alzheimer's disease, and the Alzheimer's Asociation estimates that these numbers wil grow to as many as 16 milion Americans by 2050. Increasing age is the greatest risk factor for Alzheimer's. One in 10 individuals over 65 and nearly half of those over 85 are afected.
The Alzheimer's Asociation and the National Institute on Aging estimate that direct and indirect costs of curent care at least $10 bilion anualy. The survey results underscore not only the fears that people have about this ilnes, but also the disturbing fact that few are prepared to face a future that may include Alzheimer's. Key findings from the pol, which was comisioned by MetLife Foundation, are sumarized in a report available at w.metlife.org.
They include: ̺ Americans fear Alzheimer's disease. When people are asked to name the disease they are most afraid of geting from a list of ilneses, one out of five picks Alzheimer's, while only 14 percent wory about heart disease and 13 percent are concerned about stroke. Only cancer tops Alzheimer's.
In fact, adults aged 5 and older fear geting Alzheimer's even more than cancer. ̺ Americans know litle or nothing about Alzheimer's. While virtualy al of those surveyed are aware of the disease (93 percent), almost thre-quarters (74 percent) say they know only a litle or nothing at al about Alzheimer's.
̺ One-third of Americans say they have direct experience with Alzheimer's disease. One in thre Americans (35 percent) has a family member and/or friend with Alzheimer's. ̺ Most Americans are concerned that they wil be responsible at some point for caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease.
More than thre out of five people wory that they wil have to eventualy provide or care for someone with the disease. Most Americans recognize the ned to create a plan to adres the posibility of Alzheimer's disease, but very few have taken steps to do so. More than eight out of 10 Americans think it is important to plan ahead for the posibility of geting Alzheimer's disease.
However, despite the overwhelming agrement that planing is important, almost no one has taken action. Nearly nine out of 10 Americans say they have made no comprehensive plans. The survey shows that Americans know enough about Alzheimer's disease to fear its onset, but have not taken any steps to provide for the posibility of developing the disease.
Summary
Americans' fears of Alzheimer's are justified, given its increasing presence among a population that wil live longer. As the population ages, it is esential to learn as much as posible about the disease and plan for the future. © 2026 DIABETS.