Alzheimer's a Serious Problem, Say 95 Pct of Americans; 57 Pct Worry About Getting Disease; Younger People Worried at Higher Rates

4/30/2002

From: Scott Treibitz, 703-276-2772, ext. 11

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- An overwhelming number of Americans, 95 percent, say Alzheimer's disease is a serious problem facing our nation. A majority, 57 percent, indicate that they are personally concerned about getting the disease, an increase of ten percentage points from a decade ago, according to a new poll released today. One startling finding is that 64 percent of Americans age 35 to 49, the babyboomers, are concerned about getting the disease, a prospect that is in all probability several decades away.

The Peter D. Hart Research Associates nationwide poll of 805 likely voters shows Americans express strong support for increasing the amount of government funding dedicated to medical research for Alzheimer's disease. Seven in ten likely voters, 68 percent, say it's important to have a major increase in the amount of funding allocated to finding an effective treatment or a way to prevent Alzheimer's. When asked about specific legislative proposals, nearly three-quarters (74 percent) of likely voters agree that Congress should increase federal funding for Alzheimer research to $1 billion a year, up from the current $598.9 million annual allocation.

The survey finds, in this election year, likely voters saying that medical research (41 percent) is one of the most important areas for federal spending, ranking second only to education (66 percent) and ahead of the military (37 percent).

"The growing concern among the public about Alzheimer's disease is justified," said Alzheimer's Association Interim President Stephen McConnell. Scientific projections, based upon population, show that at current rates, the number of Americans with the disease will grow by 350 percent by mid-century. "An estimated 14 million babyboomers today are living with a sentence of Alzheimer's disease," McConnell said.

Alzheimer's disease could begin as early as 20 years before the symptoms appear. Babyboomers will enter the age of highest risk in about 2020, when the oldest of them approach age 75. Currently, four million Americans have Alzheimer's.

"In a poll filled with intriguing results, I am particularly fascinated with the 18- to 49-year old response," said McConnell said. "With so many competing national priorities that directly affect them, from military conflict to a troubled education system, they place a stunningly high priority on Alzheimer's disease."

The poll shows that a broad coalition of likely voters are united behind increased funding for Alzheimer research, with support from large majorities of whites (73 percent) and African Americans (81 percent); men (71 percent) and women (78 percent); 18- to 34-year-olds (76 percent) and seniors age 65 and over (78 percent); as well as Democrats (82 percent), independents (75 percent), and Republicans (65 percent) agreeing that funding for Alzheimer research should be increased by $400 million a year.

"We must act now and invest in research programs. A small investment today will save this nation billions of dollars and save families incalculable emotional costs in the future," McConnell said. "This poll indicates that the American public wants action. Today, we call on Congress and President Bush to immediately make conquering Alzheimer's disease a top federal health priority." The strong support for funding increases may be driven by personal concern about developing Alzheimer's disease, especially acute among some segments of the population. Sixty-five percent of African Americans, for example, are concerned, as are 65 percent of women. Voters with family members who have or have had Alzheimer's disease are among those most concerned about getting the disease themselves, with 70 percent expressing this worry. Nearly one-third (31 percent) of those touched by Alzheimer's say they are very concerned about their own prospects for the disease.

Compared with a decade ago, a higher percentage of Americans today say they actually know someone suffering from Alzheimer's. More than four in ten (42 percent) say that they currently know someone suffering from Alzheimer's disease, and nearly one in five (18 percent) indicate that someone in their family has the disease. Combined with those who say they knew someone in the past who had the disease, the incidence of personal contact with Alzheimer's jumps to 65 percent, and the proportion who have ever had a family member with Alzheimer's increases to one-third (32 percent) of all voters.

The one-third (32 percent) of Americans with a family member who has or had Alzheimer's have been affected most detectably, with greater concerns than those whose experience with the disease has been through someone outside their family. Americans who have familial contact with Alzheimer's are more concerned about others in their family developing Alzheimer's, they are more likely to view the disease as very serious, they are more concerned about personally getting the disease and they are much stronger supporters of increased federal funding.

The greatest fear of all surrounding Alzheimer's is not contracting the disease oneself, according to the poll, but watching someone close developing it. Three in four (74 percent) Americans say that they are concerned about a family member or close friend getting Alzheimer's disease. Women under 50 are the most concerned about the possibility of someone in their family or a close friend developing Alzheimer's.