You owe it to yourself to spend the next 82 seconds watching the most powerful “Year in Review” video that’s probably ever been created:
Do not keep reading if you haven’t watched the video. Spoilers ahead!
Now that you’ve seen the video, maybe you’re thinking, “That’s an oversimplification of Alzheimer’s disease.” And perhaps you’re correct.
But now we’re talking about it, right? And since we’re discussing this awful disease, please allow me to quote some facts from the Alzheimer’s Association that are worth sharing:
1. More than 5 million Americans are living with the disease.
2. Every 67 seconds, someone in the United States develops Alzheimer’s.
3. Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States. About 500,000 deaths each year are attributed to Alzheimer’s.
4. 1 in 3 seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another dementia.
5. In 2013, 15.5 million caregivers provided an estimated 17.7 billion hours of unpaid care, valued at more than $220 billion.
Additionally, they have some numbers that are especially relevant to women:
1. In her 60s, a woman’s estimated lifetime risk for developing Alzheimer’s is 1 in 6. For breast cancer, it is 1 in 11.
2. There are 2.5 times more women than men providing intensive “on-duty” care 24 hours a day for someone with Alzheimer’s.
3. Almost two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer’s are women.
4. More than 60 percent of Alzheimer’s and dementia caregivers are women.
Of course, these statistics aren’t meant to depress anyone — they’re just a reminder that Alzheimer’s is a disease we need to take seriously. So, kudos to this tricky video for making us do just that.
