Latest news with #LakelynEichenberger
Axios
11-06-2025
- Health
- Axios
More than 236,000 Ohioans have Alzheimer's
More than 7 million American seniors now live with Alzheimer's disease — the highest number ever recorded — including more than 236,000 Ohioans. Why it matters: As Alzheimer's diagnoses rise, the federal funding for medical research that's critical to preventing and treating it is at risk of being cut. By the numbers: About 11.3% of Ohioans 65 and older are living with Alzheimer's, according to 2025 data shared in a new Alzheimer's Association report. Nearly 5,000 Ohioans die from the disease each year. Between the lines: According to the 2020 census, Ohio is on pace to have more residents over 60 than residents under 20. Meanwhile, 2023 data from the American Community Survey showed that Cleveland's 65-69 age group experienced the highest percentage growth of any age demographic in the city. Zoom out: Nearly two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer's are women, according to data cited in the report. Risk increases with age: 5.1% of people aged 65-74 have it, and a third of people 85 and older have it. What they're saying:"It doesn't surprise me" that Alzheimer's incidence has increased, because the population is aging and "we're becoming more sophisticated in our options for diagnosing and testing for Alzheimer's disease," Lakelyn Eichenberger, a gerontologist and caregiving advocate at Home Instead, tells Axios.
Axios
10-06-2025
- Health
- Axios
1 in 10 Hoosiers over 65 has Alzheimer's
Nearly 11% of Hoosiers over 65 are living with Alzheimer's — more than 121,300 people — according to 2020 data shared in a new Alzheimer's Association report. Why it matters: More than 7 million American seniors now live with Alzheimer's, the highest number ever recorded, but addressing cognitive decline early can help stave off the disease. By the numbers: Almost two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer's are women, per data cited in the report. Risk increases with age: 5.1% of people ages 65–74 have it, while a third of people 85 and older have it, per the report. Zoom in: Indiana's elderly population is expected to grow rapidly in the coming years, according to projections from the Indiana Business Research Center at Indiana University's Kelley School of Business. One in every five Hoosiers (over 966,000 people) will be 65 or older by 2030. Marion County skews a bit younger. The elderly population percentage is here is poised to reach 16.2% in 2030. Stunning stat: The research center says the number of people 65 and up in Indiana will surpass 1.5 million by 2050, a 57% increase from 2015. Threat level: Nearly 18% of Hoosiers 45 and older already have subjective cognitive decline, according to the Alzheimer's Association. And the burden of care is often thrust onto family members. The Alzheimer's Association estimates about 219,000 Indiana caregivers provide unpaid care valued at $6.9 billion for loved ones with the disease. Zoom out: The highest rates of seniors with Alzheimer's are in D.C. (16.8%) and Maryland (12.9%). The lowest is in Alaska (8.8%). What they're saying: "It doesn't surprise me" that Alzheimer's incidence has increased, because the population is aging and "we're becoming more sophisticated in our options for diagnosing and testing for Alzheimer's disease," Lakelyn Eichenberger, a gerontologist and caregiving advocate at Home Instead, tells Axios. With cases climbing and age a key risk factor, early action is critical for managing the disease and accessing new treatments, Eichenberger says. Warning signs to watch for in high-risk age groups: Trouble finding the right word. Difficulty judging distances. Misplacing things and struggling to retrace steps. Between the lines: "If you're seeing patterns of these types of signs over an extended period of time," that could mean it's time to see a doctor about cognitive decline, Eichenberger says.
Axios
09-05-2025
- Health
- Axios
Early Alzheimer's signs to watch for in adults over 65
11% of Arkansans over 65 are living with Alzheimer's, according to 2020 data shared in a new Alzheimer's Association report. Why it matters: More than 7 million seniors now live with Alzheimer's in the U.S., according to the report — the highest number ever recorded — but addressing cognitive decline early can help stave off the disease. By the numbers: Almost two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer's are women, according to data cited in the report. Risk increases with age: 5.1% of people aged 65 - 74 have it; and 33.4% of people 85 and older have it, per the report. Zoom out: The highest rates of seniors with Alzheimer's are in D.C. with 16.8% and Maryland with 12.9%, according to the Alzheimer's Association. The lowest is in Montana with 9.8%. "It doesn't surprise me" that Alzheimer's incidence has increased, because the population is aging and "we're becoming more sophisticated in our options for diagnosing and testing for Alzheimer's disease," Lakelyn Eichenberger, a gerontologist and caregiving advocate at Home Instead, tells Axios. With cases climbing and age a key risk factor, early action is critical for managing the disease and accessing new treatments, Eichenberger says. Warning signs to watch for in high-risk age groups: Trouble finding the right word. Difficulty judging distances. Misplacing things and struggling to retrace steps. Between the lines: "If you're seeing patterns of these types of signs over an extended period of time," that could signal it's time to see a health care provider about cognitive decline, Eichenberger says.
Axios
06-05-2025
- Health
- Axios
Alzheimer's on the rise: Early signs to watch for in adults over 65
More than 7 million Americans over 65 are now living with Alzheimer's — the highest number ever recorded, per a new Alzheimer's Association report. Why it matters: That means about one in nine people 65 and older (11%) have dementia believed to be caused by Alzheimer's — but addressing cognitive decline early can help stave off the disease. By the numbers: 7.2 million adults are estimated to have Alzheimer's nationally, up from 6.9 million last year, per the Alzheimer's Association report. Almost two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer's are women, according to data cited in the report. The highest rates of seniors with Alzheimer's are in D.C. (16.8%), Maryland (12.9%), and New York (12.7%), according to the Alzheimer's Association. Risk increases with age: 5.1% of people aged 65 - 74 have it; and 33.4% of people 85 and older have it, per the report. "It doesn't surprise me" that Alzheimer's incidence has increased, because the population is aging and "we're becoming more sophisticated in our options for diagnosing and testing for Alzheimer's disease," Lakelyn Eichenberger, a gerontologist and caregiving advocate at Home Instead, tells Axios. With cases climbing and age a key risk factor, early action is critical for managing the disease and accessing new treatments, Eichenberger says. Warning signs to watch for in high-risk age groups: Trouble finding the right word. Difficulty judging distances. Misplacing things and struggling to retrace steps. Between the lines: "If you're seeing patterns of these types of signs over an extended period of time," that could signal it's time to see a health care provider about cognitive decline, Eichenberger says.
