Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that leads to a deterioration in cognitive function, affecting memory, thinking and behavior. It is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly.
Worldwide prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease
In 2019, around 58 million people worldwide were living with Alzheimer’s or related diseases, according to a study by the Fondation Médéric Alzheimer. Projections indicate that this number could reach 139 million by 2050, due to the aging of the world’s population.
Dementia, of which Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form, was responsible for 1.6 million deaths in 2019, making it the 7th leading cause of death worldwide.
Situation in France
In France, over 1.2 million people suffer from Alzheimer’s disease or a related disorder. Every year, around 225,000 new cases are diagnosed.
The prevalence of the disease increases with age: it is estimated at 40 per 1,000 people after the age of 60, 180 per 1,000 after the age of 75, and reaches almost one person in two after the age of 90.
By 2050, the number of people suffering from a neuro-cognitive disease such as Alzheimer’s is expected to reach over 1,800,000. This would represent 9.6% of the over-65s and 6.2% of the French working population.
Prevalence among senior citizens
Alzheimer’s disease is rare before the age of 60, but its frequency increases significantly thereafter:
- After the age of 65, around 1 in 10 people suffer from dementia, 60% to 80% of which is Alzheimer’s.
- After the age of 85, around 40% of seniors are affected.
- More than 900,000 people over the age of 75 are currently affected in France.
The impact of Alzheimer’s disease on seniors’ lives
- Progressive loss of autonomy
Alzheimer’s disease leads to a progressive loss of autonomy, beginning with damage to short-term memory before affecting language, recognition and spatial orientation. At an advanced stage, seniors need daily assistance with essential tasks such as dressing, eating and getting around.
- A factor in social isolation
The disease is a major factor in social isolation, as many patients see their circle of acquaintances gradually shrink. This loneliness can accelerate the progression of cognitive disorders, and exacerbate depressive symptoms, making daily life even more difficult.
- Increased risk of medical complications
The disease exposes the elderly to an increased risk of medical complications. Balance problems lead to frequent falls, while swallowing and eating difficulties can lead to deficiencies. What’s more, their vulnerability to infections, notably pneumonia and urinary tract infections, represents a further danger to their fragile health. Not to mention forgotten medication, which can prove fatal.
Care for Alzheimer’s patients
While there is no cure, certain medical approaches and non-medicinal therapies can improve patients’ quality of life. Prevention also plays a key role, by acting on risk factors to delay or even avoid the onset of the disease.
- Staying at home or moving into an EHPAD?
Around 70% of Alzheimer’s patients live at home, often with the help of a caregiver. To delay entry into a specialized institution, schemes such as shared Alzheimer’s care, home help services (SAD) or home nursing care services (SSIAD) are set up. However, as the disease progresses, around 40% of sufferers enter an EHPAD, often in a specialized unit dedicated to advanced cognitive disorders.
- The role of family caregivers
The role of family carers is central to the support of patients. In France, more than three million family members assist a person suffering from dementia. This is a heavy responsibility, and one in three caregivers reports suffering from stress, anxiety or depression as a result. To support them, financial aid such as the APA (Allocation Personnalisée d’Autonomie) and respite solutions are available to offer them moments of rest.
- Medical management and non-medication therapies
In medical terms, there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but certain medications can slow its progression. In addition, non-medical therapies such as memory workshops, pet therapy, music therapy and adapted physical activities play a key role in improving patients’ quality of life. By stimulating their cognitive abilities, they help them maintain their autonomy for longer.
Risk factors and prevention
Several modifiable risk factors have been identified, such as hypertension, obesity, smoking, social isolation, hypercholesterolemia from the age of 40 and untreated vision loss. By tackling these factors, almost 40% of dementia cases could be delayed or even prevented.
Prevention is therefore essential to delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Good habits to adopt include:
- Regular physical activity reduces the risk of dementia by 30 to 40%.
- A healthy, balanced diet, such as the Mediterranean diet (fruit, vegetables, olive oil, fish): improves brain health
- Lifelong prevention
- Regular cognitive stimulation: reading, thinking games, learning a new language…
- Maintain strong social ties: avoid isolation, maintain contacts with family and friends, and even with associations if the person is isolated.
- Control the main risk factors: hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol, stress, sleep, etc.
Therapeutic advances in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease?
In November 2024, the European Medicines Agency approved Lecanemab, a treatment designed to slow cognitive decline in patients at an early stage of the disease. However, this treatment is reserved for certain patients due to the potential risk of serious side effects.
Other treatments exist, with encouraging results, but are still in their infancy.
Alzheimer’s disease represents a major public health challenge, both in France and worldwide. The implementation of prevention strategies targeting modifiable factors, combined with recent therapeutic advances, offers promising prospects for reducing the impact of this devastating disease.
Preserving your brain means adopting a healthy lifestyle today!
Published by the Editorial Staff on