According to a new study, the north country has seen a dramatic increase in the number of people with Alzheimer's disease in the last nine years.

The Alzheimer's Association has released the results of a study, which shows the national effects of the disease.

(Click on the picture to watch Caroline Tucker's report on the rise of Alzheimer's.)

In Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties, there are more than 5,800 people living with Alzheimer's - a 19.8 percent increase since 2000.

"Combine this information and we have more than just a health crisis. We have an epidemic that will have wide reaching effects," said Jared Paventi, a spokesman for the Central New York Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.

Among the other findings in the study:
 

• More than 5.3 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's

• Every 70 seconds someone in the United States develops Alzheimer's

• Healthcare costs triple for those 65+ with Alzheimer's than if they have no diagnosed dementia

• An additional 250,000 children between the ages of 8 and 18 share caregiving responsibilities

• New Yorkers provided the equivalent $6.2 billion in unpaid care to their family members with Alzheimer's

 
See the study

See the news release

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