Cognitive Health

Statistics

Alzheimer’s disease is a growing public health crisis in Maryland. The impact of Alzheimer’s is projected to rise, and the most recent data show:

127,000 people aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s in Maryland.
10.1% of people aged 45 and older have subjective cognitive decline.
247,000 family caregivers bear the burden of the disease in Maryland.
405 million hours of unpaid care provided by Alzheimer’s caregivers.
$8.1 billion is the value of the unpaid care.
$1.5 billion is the cost of Alzheimer’s to the state Medicaid program.

Source: Alzheimer’s Association

Risk Factors

Risk factors that can be changed:

Smoking
Hearing loss
Education
Social isolation
Physical inactivity
Chronic conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, and depression
Binge drinking

Risk factors that cannot be changed:

Increasing age
Black/African American race
Female biological sex
Hispanic/Latinx ethnicity
Genetic factors
History of traumatic brain injury
Down Syndrome

Warning Signs of Alzheimer's Disease

10 Early Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer's and Dementia

Importance of Early Detection and Diagnosis

For many patients and families, there may be misconceptions that the cognitive or behavioral symptoms of dementia are just a normal part of aging. Stigma, shame, and concealing symptoms for fear of others “finding out” are significant barriers to seeking and obtaining a dementia diagnosis. Despite the barriers, there are many benefits to an early diagnosis, such as:

More time to educate patients and families about dementia and dementia care,

More time to prepare, plan, and make important decisions about future care,
Greater opportunities to participate in research studies,
Ability to adjust and set expectations for patients and caregivers,
Better disease management, and
Improvement in overall care and quality of life.

Cognitive health screening is an important part of routine medical care, and anyone who is concerned about their cognitive health or experiencing the 10 Warning Signs below should talk to their healthcare provider about completing a cognitive assessment. Medicare participants may receive a cognitive assessment during their Annual Wellness Visit. For more information, please visit
https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/cognitive-assessment-care-plan-services.

Source: Maryland Department of Health

Healthy
Charles County