What age group does is affected by Alzheiemr's disease?
Busyb asked...
What age does it affect? Are there any test to make sure you have Alzheimer's?
Expert Answer
A social worker and geriatric consultant who specializes in dementia care, Joyce Simard is based in Land O' Lakes, Florida, and in Prague. She is a well-known speaker and has written two books, one focusing on end-of-life care and the other, entitled The Magic Tape Recorder, explaining aging, memory loss, and how children can be helpers to their elders.
Age is the greatest risk factor for developing Alzheimer's disease (AD). At the current time, 1 in 8 over 65 has this disease. The most frightening fact is that as our life expectancy increases so does the risk factor with 50% over 85 impaired by the disease. Unfortunately there is no test currently available that will make the definitive diagnosis of AD until after death when an autopsy is performed. The "probable" or "possible" diagnosis is made after all other potential causes of the symptoms have been ruled out.