Women Hit by Alzheimer's Hardest, Report Finds

Women suffer the most from Alzheimer’s disease in the U.S., according to a new report — making up not only the majority of cases, but carrying more of the burden of caring for the growing population with the illness. Women in their 60s are about twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s over the rest of their lives as they are to develop breast cancer, according to the new report from the Alzheimer’s Association. It affects more than 5 million Americans, a number projected to soar to 13 million over the next 35 years. There are more than twice as many women as men taking care of someone with Alzheimer’s all day, every day, the report finds. The Association says the total national cost of caring for people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias is projected to reach $214 billion this year. The report calculates that unpaid caregiving by family and friends would add up to another $220 billion.

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