As rates of Alzheimer’s disease continue to rise in the United States, a report out from the Centers for Disease Control shows that deaths from the disease are spiking pretty significantly

The CDC’s ‘Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report’ shows a 54.5 percent increase in the number of people reported to have died from Alzheimer’s disease between 1999 and 2014. Significant changes were also noted in the number of people who died at home from Alzheimer’s disease, which rose from 14 percent to 25 percent in the same time period. The report also weighed in on people who take care of Alzheimer’s patients, showing that they would benefit from support and resources.

To what can we attribute the rise in deaths from Alzheimer’s Disease? Is the disease really more prevalent or have advances in technology made it easier to identify? What resources are available for caretakers?

If you are a caregiver for an Alzheimer’s or dementia patient, UCLA’s Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Program offers day-long ‘bootcamps’ that provide training, support and resources. You can find more information here. 

Guest:

Zaldy Tan, M.D., medical director of the UCLA Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Program