Report shows not enough senior adults are being tested for Alzheimer's

There is a crucial health assessment that many older adults are not getting.

A new report shows only one in seven older adults is getting memory or cognitive issues checked out. Those are the latest numbers in a new report from the Alzheimer's Association.

KY3 news spoke with Bill Curnutt. His wife Audrey has been battling Alzheimer's for the past 9 years, but wasn't diagnosed until three years ago. Bill talked about how that diagnosis changed their lives.

They were living life on the road, traveling the country in an RV. Three years ago they decided to go see some friends in Alabama when Bill noticed that Audrey wasn't understanding the map that she was holding.

"At that point I knew something was wrong," said Bill. "I never dreamed, I never dreamed that it could have been Alzheimer's. Because she is so bright, so brilliant of a lady."

During the trip, the friends that they met even noticed Audrey's behavior was off. She got tested by a doctor and was diagnosed with Alzheimer's.

"It took me three doctors to convince me that she had it. I couldn't believe it. I was devastated," said Curnutt. "It wrecks your lives. Not just yours, but your whole family.

Bill says that doctors hadn't caught the thinking issues despite numerous visits. Audrey had been living with Alzheimer's for six years at that point.

"We are regular attenders of doctors in the hospitals in Springfield and none of them picked it up. It is very hard for doctors to pick it up, because they only see them for 10 minutes," explained Curnutt. "And then they are out the door. But there needs to be some guidelines developed where doctors can do some testing or evaluation at a much earlier age, at least by 50."

The Alzheimer's Association 2019 facts and figures report shows that 94% of primary care physicians consider it important to assess all patients 65 and older for cognitive impairment, but less than half say it is their standard protocol. But the report also shows that about half of seniors are aware of changes in their thinking abilities, but only 40% of that number discuss the changes with their doctor.

"The physician depends on the patient to know what the problems are, and the patient is depending on the physician to ask those questions," said Rob Hulstra, the healthcare outreach coordinator for the Alzheimer's Association in Springfield. "And the solution is simple, let's just start talking about it."

Hulstra says doctors can test for Alzheimer's or other thinking impairments with a series of memory tests.

"We all forget where we parked our car, where their keys are, where the remote is, but when you start forgetting where you live, you don't recognize what the car keys are for," Hulstra explained. "It doesn't necessarily mean that you have Alzheimer's but it is a signal to get this checked out."

That is why Hulstra and Curnutt say it is important for older adults to get tested regularly for cognitive problems and for family and friends to know what to look for.

"You have known someone for 40-50 years and now they are acting like a teenager or a child. And they are looking for things that don't exist anymore," said Hulstra. "Get the conversation started and be proactive."

"Family members need to be educated in this more than what they have knowledge of now," Curnutt said. "People need to recognize things that this person is doing or saying that is not the normal way of doing it for this person."

Experts say it is not only important to be on the lookout for changes in loved ones, but also to speak up when you notice those changes to possibly catch Alzheimer's early on.

The local Alzheimer's Association is a great resource to reach out to for help and with questions.

Read the full Alzheimer's Association 2019 Disease Facts and Figures report below:

Significant Disconnect Between Seniors and Physicians When It Comes to Cognitive Assessment According to New Alzheimer’s Association Report

- Report also shows latest statistics and information on Alzheimer’s prevalence, incidence, mortality and cost of care in Missouri and nationally -

ST. LOUIS, MO. MARCH 5, 2019 –Findings from the Alzheimer’s Association 2019 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report released today show that, despite a strong belief among seniors and primary care physicians that brief cognitive assessments are important, only half of seniors are being assessed for thinking and memory issues, and much fewer receive routine assessments. In addition to providing an in-depth look at the latest statistics on Alzheimer’s prevalence, incidence, mortality, costs of care, and impact on caregivers nationally and in Missouri, the new Facts and Figures report examines awareness, attitudes, and utilization of brief cognitive assessments among seniors age 65 and older and primary care physicians.

A brief cognitive assessment is a short evaluation for cognitive impairment performed by a health care provider that can take several forms — including asking a patient about cognitive concerns, directly observing a patient’s interactions, seeking input from family and friends or using short verbal or written tests that can be administered easily in the clinical setting. An evaluation of cognitive function is a required component of the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit, but findings from the report show that only 1 in 3 seniors are aware these visits should include this assessment.

The report also found, however, that among both seniors and primary care physicians there is widespread understanding of the benefits of early detection of cognitive decline and the importance of brief cognitive assessments. In fact, 82 percent of seniors believe it is important to have their thinking and memory checked, and nearly all primary care physicians (94 percent) consider it important to assess all patients age 65 and older for cognitive impairment.

The Facts and Figures report also reveals a troubling disconnect between seniors and primary care physicians regarding who they believe is responsible for initiating these assessments and reticence from seniors in discussing their concerns.

“Early detection of cognitive impairment offers numerous medical, social, emotional and planning benefits for both affected individuals and their families,” says Stacy Tew-Lovasz, Greater Missouri Chapter President. “We hope this report raises awareness about current gaps in communication and encourages seniors and physicians to be more proactive in routinely discussing cognition and related concerns.”

By the Numbers

o 94 percent of primary care physicians consider it important to assess all patients age 65 and older for cognitive impairment.

o 82 percent of seniors believe it is important to have their thinking and memory checked.

o 50 percent – average number of senior patients that primary care physicians say they assess.

o 16 percent of seniors report receiving regular assessments for memory or thinking issues.

Seniors reporting regular assessment for:

o Blood pressure – 91 percent

o Cholesterol – 83 percent

o Vaccinations – 80 percent

o Hearing/Vision – 73 percent

o Diabetes – 66 percent

o Cancer – 61 percent

o Cognitive Assessment – 16 percent

Top reasons some physicians choose not to provide a cognitive assessment:

o Lack of symptoms or complaints from a patient – 68 percent

o Lack of time during a patient visit – 58 percent

o Patient resistance to testing – 57 percent

Information and resources primary care physicians would welcome to facilitate cognitive assessments:

o Assessment tools to use – 96 percent

o Guidance on next steps when cognitive problems are indicated – 94 percent

o Steps for implementing assessments efficiently into practice – 91 percent

Updated Alzheimer’s Statistics

The Alzheimer’s Association Facts and Figures report also provides a look at the latest national and local statistics and information on Alzheimer’s prevalence, incidence, mortality and morbidity, costs of care and caregiving.

Prevalence, Incidence and Mortality

* An estimated 5.8 million Americans of all ages are living with Alzheimer’s dementia in 2019, including 200,000 under the age of 65.

* Of the estimated 5.8 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s dementia in 2019, 110,000 are Missouri residents.

* By 2025 — just six years from now — the number of people age 65 and older with Alzheimer’s dementia is estimated to reach 7.1 million — an increase of 27 percent from the 5.6 million age 65 and older affected in 2019. Here in Missouri, the estimated number of individuals with Alzheimer’s will be 130,000.

* Two-thirds of Americans over age 65 with Alzheimer’s dementia (3.5 million) are women.

* Alzheimer’s is the sixth-leading cause of death in the U.S., and it is the fifth-leading cause of death for those age 65 and older.

* As the population of the U.S. ages, Alzheimer’s is becoming a more common cause of death.

Cost of Care

* Total national cost of caring for those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias is estimated at $290 billion (not including unpaid caregiving) in 2019, of which $195 billion is the cost to Medicare and Medicaid; out-of-pocket costs represent $63 billion of the total payments, while other costs total $32 billion.

* In Missouri, the report estimated total Medicaid costs for Americans with dementia age 65 and older is $923 million for 2019. In the next six years, that figure is expected to increase by 21.8%.

* In 2018, the lifetime cost of care was greater for those with dementia than those without ($350,174 versus $192,575, respectively).

Caregiving

* More than 16 million Americans provide unpaid care for people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias.

* In Missouri, there are 317,000 caregivers. In 2018, these caregivers provided 361,000,000 total hours of unpaid care, valued at $4,568,000,000.

* Approximately two-thirds of caregivers are women, and one-third of dementia caregivers are daughters.

Full text of the 2019 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report, including the accompanying special report, “Alzheimer’s Detection in the Primary Care Setting: Connecting Patients with Physicians,” can be viewed here. For multi-media support of this year’s report, click here.

About 2019 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures

The Alzheimer's Association 2019 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures report is a comprehensive compilation of national statistics and information on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. The report conveys the impact of Alzheimer’s on individuals, families, government and the nation’s health care system. Since its 2007 inaugural release, the report has become the preeminent source covering the broad spectrum of Alzheimer’s issues. The Facts and Figures report is an official publication of the Alzheimer’s Association.

About the Alzheimer’s Association

The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer's care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s®. Visit alz.org or call 800.272.3900.