Diagnoses of early-onset dementia and Alzheimer’s are on the rise

It also illustrates the urgency to find cures, she said.

“While we are making medical advancements in detecting forms of dementia—and greater awareness could be part of the reason for the increase in diagnoses—we still have considerable work to do toward ending this devastating disease,” Dr. Chambers said.

Among the report’s other findings:

• The average age of a person living with either early-onset dementia or Alzheimer’s disease is 49.
• Both conditions are more common among women, who make up 58% of those diagnosed.
• People with either form of dementia have an average Health Index of 62.5, which means they are living at about two-thirds of their optimal health. This equates to a loss of about 11 years of healthy life.

Of course, the consequences of dementia or Alzheimer’s go well beyond the individuals diagnosed. Caring for someone with any form of dementia often takes an economic toll on households and a mental toll on caregivers.

The BCBSA notes that in 2015 alone, nearly 16 million Americans provided more than 18 billion hours of unpaid care to persons with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Those efforts amount to an estimated $221 billion in uncompensated work.

The added caregiving responsibilities are felt particularly among women, who make up 63% of this caregiving subset. The added stress and time commitment these caregivers incur can lead to depression, social isolation, and financial stress.

The report, Early-Onset Dementia and Alzheimer's Rates Grow for Younger Americans, is the latest issued by the BCBSA as part of its Health of America report series.