Alzheimer’s: An Emerging Public Health Concern

Alzheimer's: An Emerging Public Health Concern  has been published by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health   These public health brief details the affect Alzheimer's disease has on L.A. County.  Included in the brief: profiles of caregivers of adults with the disease (by age, race/ethnicity, gender, education attainment, income level and L.A. County service planning area), risk factors of the disease (chronic health conditions and health behaviors), prevalence of the disease in L.A. County and more.   Selected Findings:   In 2005, Alzheimer's was the 7th leading cause of death in L.A. County (pg. 1). Alzheimer's is prevalent in about 1 in 10 persons over the age of 65 (pg.1). There are about 310,000 adults in L.A. County who are caregivers to an adult with Alzheimer's (pg. 1). Over one third of persons caring for an adult with Alzheimer's in L.A County reported spending the equivalent in hours of a part time job in care giving for that adult (pg. 3).