Dementia impacts at least 5 million people in the United States. That is, 5 million known cases with many more undiagnosed cases out there. As people keep living longer, the number of people with dementia is expected to keep rising. Some experts say the dementia rate could easily skyrocket over the next couple of decades.

An alarming statistic states:

“Within the United States, there are at least 5 million people currently living with age-related dementias. As the population increases, these numbers are expected to rise. To put this into perspective, it’s estimated that one out of every six women and one out of every ten men, living past the age of 55 will develop dementia…”

“A recent meta-analysis reported that the global prevalence of dementia is somewhere between 5 and 7 percent within people aged 60 or over. By the age of 85 years and older, between 25 and 50 percent of people display symptoms of dementia, more specifically Alzheimer’s.”

Another source reveals:

“One in 8 people over age 65 in the United States has Alzheimer’s disease, and nearly 50% over age 85.”

“In 2014, an estimated 5.2 million people in the United States are living with Alzheimer’s disease.”

“Women are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. A woman age 65 or older has a 1 in 6 chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease in her lifetime, compared to 1 in 11 for a man…”

“Alzheimer’s disease is the fifth-leading cause of death in the United States for those age 65 and older, but the only one in the top ten without a means of prevention, a way to slow its progression, or a cure.”

Dementia, including Alzheimer’s, is like so many other illnesses and conditions in that the earlier it can be detected, the more that can be done to slow the progression and stave off the more severe effects for a number of years.

But how does anyone detect dementia before symptoms appear?

A new study revealed:

“A FIVE-MINUTE neck scan could detect dementia years before it strikes, new research shows.”

“Screening could stop the degenerative disease hitting middle-aged victims, according to a study by University College London (UCL)…”

“Boffins uses ultrasound scanners to analyse blood vessels in people’s necks and how the pulse reached different parts of the body with varying degrees of power.”

“An international team of experts studied the strength of the pulse as it travelled towards the brain in 3,191 people in 2002.”

“They then monitored their memory and problem-solving abilities over the next 15 years.”

“People with the highest strength pulse were 50 per cent more likely to have accelerated cognitive decline over the next ten years, the study found.”

So, why would a stronger pulse to the brain increase the risk of developing dementia? It sounds backwards to me, but the report explained:

“It is believed healthy vessels close to the heart reduce the power of each heartbeat and stop them reaching delicate blood vessels.”

“But aging and high blood pressure can stiffen vessels and reduce protection.”

“Stronger pulses are able to penetrate deeper into the brain’s weaker vessels.”

“This causes damage to smaller vessels which can add to the risk of demean, the study found.”

It is hoped that discovering the stronger pulse in the arteries leading to the brain will help lead to a way to reduce the onset of dementia, including Alzheimer’s. Just being able to take measurements 10-years earlier to counter the effects of dementia could add to the number of productive years and life of many older people.