Study: Many People With Alzheimer's Undiagnosed or Unaware of Diagnosis

A new report from the Alzheimer's Association revealed that most people who are living with Alzheimer's disease either are not aware of their diagnosis or have not been diagnosed at all.

According to the report:

• Only 45 percent of seniors diagnosed with Alzheimer's or their caregivers are aware of the diagnosis (by comparison, 90 percent of more of people diagnosed with cancer or cardiovascular disease are aware) 
• Among individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's, only 33 percent are aware they have it
• Among all people living with Alzheimer's, only about half have ever been diagnosed 

The report estimates that roughly 5.3 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease, including 200,000 under the age of 65. Nearly two-thirds of those are women.

Alzheimer's disease is the sixth leading cause of death overall in the U.S. and the fifth leading cause of death for seniors. Alzheimer's deaths jumped 71 percent between 2000 and 2013 while deaths from other major diseases, such as heart disease and stroke, decreased during the same time period.

To learn more and view the report, click here.