Introduction
In the U.S., the rise of age-related chronic conditions has directly increased neurological ailments, which eventually result in the spread of dementia among the overall communities. Dementia should not be considered a disease but instead should be observed through a combination of symptoms. While cognitive impairment on its own does not necessarily indicate dementia, it is a typical symptom of the condition. A considerable number of dementia cases that have been identified are for Alzheimer’s disease, making it the most prevalent type of dementia (Healthy People 2020, n.d.). Efficient dementia care and therapy depend on accurate assessment and diagnosis. While Alzheimer’s disease can be found in every state, Texas’ statistics indicate the special prevalence of the condition, making dementia a permeating public health issue.
Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease Overview
The concerns of policymakers, scientists, and healthcare professionals regarding dementia and its forms are not without a cause. According to CDC (2018), approximately 5.7 million Americans are thought to be afflicted by Alzheimer’s disease, a form of dementia that is degenerative and incurable. It is the fifth most common mortality factor for people 65 and over and the sixth most prominent cause of death for all persons (CDC, 2018). Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia have unknown causation, although scientists agree a range of hereditary, ecological, and lifestyle variables may be involved (CDC, 2018). Over 90% of Alzheimer’s patients do not have signs until they are older than 60. The disease’s prevalence rises with age and doubles every five years after age 65 (CDC, 2018). As a result, this condition can be considered especially dangerous to older adults and, therefore, puts the elderly population at risk.
The majority of those who are affected by Alzheimer’s disease are older adults, and this age group is growing at an astounding level. In 2016, 49 million adult Americans, which accounted for 15% of the total population, were 65 years of age or older (CDC, 2018). That figure is projected to increase to almost 95 million by 2060, or approximately one in every four Americans (CDC, 2018). A projected $277 billion was spent on health care, treatment, and hospice services for individuals with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia in 2018 (CDC, 2018). Approximately 50% of these expenditures were covered by Medicare (CDC, 2018). Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia will keep affecting an increasing number of individuals, driving up costs, unless researchers can find a way to avoid them.
Symptoms
As for the symptoms, it is first worth mentioning that the typical aging process can frequently begin as soon as the individual is aged 30. This leads to changes in eyesight, including vision problems, a drop in bone strength, a decrease in muscle endurance, a loss of epidermis smoothness, a stiffening of arteries and veins, and changes in blood artery and heart structure (Sheladia and Reddy, 2021). Additionally, as people age, their recollection and general cognitive abilities naturally deteriorate, which slows down processing times and makes concentration more challenging.
Nevertheless, memory loss and cognitive impairment that seriously interfere with daily life cannot be considered a normal aspect of aging. The onset of diseases like Alzheimer’s disease is frequently over 20 years sooner than the onset of symptoms like dementia (Sheladia and Reddy, 2021). Memory problems, disorientation, and communication problems are among the visible symptoms that start to show up when the brain progressively alters in such an unexpected way in elderly patients (Sheladia and Reddy, 2021). Patients have classic symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, including difficulties with everyday activities like tying shoes, recalling recent events, having trouble identifying close family members, asking questions repeatedly, frequently getting lost, and frequently misplacing everyday items like vehicle keys.
Dementia Statistics in Texas
The statistics on the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease and symptoms, such as dementia, tend to increase in some states. For example, Texas Health and Human Services (2022) projected that 6.5 million Americans of all ages would have Alzheimer’s disease in 2022, wherein Texans will make up about 400,000 of the total. Previously, COVID-19 was the third most common cause of death in the U.S. in 2020. In this sense, Alzheimer’s disease rose to the seventh most prevalent cause of death in 2020 and 2021 from the sixth. Nevertheless, it still remains a serious public health issue. For instance, a projected $321 billion will be spent on treating Alzheimer’s disease worldwide in 2022 (Texas Health and Human Services, 2022). Meanwhile, Texas will take second place in the nation for the proportion of Alzheimer’s disease mortality rate and fourth in the percentage of cases of the condition.
As for the demographics within the 65-year-old age group diagnosed with dementia, the gender division is unequal. Of the projected 6.5 million Americans age 65 and older who have Alzheimer’s disease, 2.5 million are males, and nearly 4 million are women (Texas Health and Human Services, 2022). Moreover, it was mentioned that certain dementias are likewise more prevalent among women. In addition to other issues that concern dementia, in the United States, there are about 11 million unpaid caretakers, the majority of whom are relatives (Texas Health and Human Services, 2022). In 2021, 1.09 million unpaid caregivers in Texas assisted Texans with dementia (Texas Health and Human Services, 2022). This translates into an anticipated billions of hours of uncompensated care, which would cost billions of dollars annually.
As previously indicated, it was anticipated that dementia would affect millions of Americans of all ages by 2020. Out of the entire population of the U.S., 10% is the 65 years old population and older were diagnosed with dementia (Sheladia and Reddy, 2021). Furthermore, 9,763 dementia fatalities and around 400,000 total Alzheimer’s disease cases in 2020 were attributed to the overall Texas public (Sheladia and Reddy, 2021). Texas came in fourth place for the proportion of patients diagnosed with dementia in 2020, after only New York (410,000 cases), Florida (580,000 cases), and California (690,000 cases) (Sheladia and Reddy, 2021). Texas, meanwhile, came in second place to California in terms of the number of dementia fatalities (16,627 deaths) (Sheladia and Reddy, 2021). Additionally, there is a lack of easily accessible general information that breaks down the annual incidence of dementia cases and dementia fatalities by race/ethnicity in each state. As a result, it is currently uncertain how many Alzheimer’s disease cases and fatalities were linked to the American population of people of color in Texas in 2020. The given statistics highlight the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia as a symptom among the Texan population.
Causes of Alzheimer’s Disease in Texas
When it comes to the causes of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease as the effect, there are several. Americans have among the greatest rates of overweight and obesity in the U.S.A. as a result of a combination of poor nutrition, inactivity, and different demographic variables. A significant level of body fat raises the possibility of long-term medical conditions that can interfere with daily activities (Sheladia and Reddy, 2021). Texas’ obesity prevalence has been higher than the national average throughout the period 1990–2019 (Sheladia and Reddy, 2021). In 2019, 34.8% of Texas representatives and 30.9% of Americans had a medical condition of obesity (Sheladia and Reddy, 2021). Furthermore, representatives of the Hispanic American population are at an increased risk of developing age-related chronic conditions, which in turn increase the likelihood of developing dementia due to the alarmingly high prevalence of overweight and obesity in this community.
In this sense, due to the negative consequences of numerous age-related chronic illnesses, demographic variables, and unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, the incidence of dementia and associated neurodegenerative disorders is rising in the United States and Texas. The American community is a very significant risk for the future occurrence of Alzheimer’s disease and closely linked neurological conditions. The reasons are the confounding effects of aging populations, genetic makeup, and age-related chronic illnesses that include cardiovascular disease, hyperlipidemia, kidney failure, and kidney disease.
Texas State Plan for Alzheimer’s Disease
Communities all around the country are shifting toward a public health strategy to combat dementias like Alzheimer’s. The Alzheimer’s Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) created the Healthy Brain Initiative to disseminate information about this strategy (Texas Health and Human Services, 2019). By adopting a health promotion strategy focused on the Road Map to manage Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia in the Texas State Plan for Alzheimer’s Disease 2019–2023, the Texas Department of State Health Services endorses this campaign (Texas Health and Human Services, 2019). The state strategy takes into account the same difficulties in locating suitable and essential medical and supportive services for all forms of dementia.
Community health is fundamental to coordinated initiatives to reduce, identify, and address health concerns in society. This entails tackling issues affecting older people and the larger group in relation to Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Due to the significant financial costs to society, and the strain of providing healthcare to families and institutions, Alzheimer’s disease and associated dementias are a public health concern (Texas Health and Human Services, 2019). Decreasing the risks, enhancing early identification and diagnosis, lessening stigma, guaranteeing safety and high-quality treatment, and meeting the needs of diverse communities are just a few of the objectives of a community-based public health initiative.
Conclusion
Hence, while Alzheimer’s disease is present in every state, Texas statistics show an exceptionally high frequency of the disorder, making dementia a pervasive public health concern. Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias are a concern for public health because they have a substantial financial impact on society and place a strain on the healthcare system when it comes to caring for individuals, families, and organizations. In 2022, Texas will account for nearly 400,000 of the 6.5 million Americans with Alzheimer’s disease, affecting people of all ages. The state ranks second in the U.S. for the mortality rate due to Alzheimer’s disease and fourth for the prevalence of the ailment. The prevalence of dementia and related neurodegenerative disorders is increasing in the United States and Texas as a result of a number of age-related chronic illnesses, demographic factors, and bad lifestyle choices.
References
CDC. (2018). Alzheimer’s disease. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Web.
Healthy People 2020. (n.d.). Dementias, including Alzheimer’s disease. Healthy People. Web.
Sheladia, S., & Reddy, P. H. (2021). Age-related chronic diseases and Alzheimer’s disease in Texas: A Hispanic focused study. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease Reports, 5(1), 121-133.
Texas Health and Human Services. (2019). Texas state plan for Alzheimer’s disease: 2019-2023. DSHS. Web.
Texas Health and Human Services. (2022). Alzheimer’s disease statistics. DSHS. Web.