More than 122,000 Missourians living with Alzheimer’s disease
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
Across the Show-Me State, more than 122,000 Missourians aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer's disease, according to the latest data from the Department of Health and Senior Services. One-in-three seniors die from Alzheimer's or another form of dementia across the country.
"That is a staggering figure," said Senior Program Manager for the Missouri Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association Teresa Brown. "That's just by reported estimates and by diagnosed; we know that there are many, many more individuals in different stages, maybe they haven't been diagnosed, maybe they haven't come forward, maybe they just don't."
Brown has been personally affected by Alzheimer's. Her grandmother, Nora, was diagnosed when Brown was younger, and at the time, there wasn't much information to help them understand the diagnosis.
"When my family was on this journey, it was some time ago, and there wasn't a web search or a Google search or anything like that, and we were just kind of in the dark and figuring it out as we went," said Brown. "So we were kind of figuring it out and uncovering the layers as we went."
Data shows that since 2000, the number of deaths from Alzheimer's and other dementias has increased by more than 153%. Across the United States, nearly 7 million people are living with the disease, mostly women.
Brown says that number is going up.
"We're living longer, and we're getting the diagnoses out there," said Brown. "It's being diagnosed more frequently, and earlier, so we do anticipate that number to be on the rise."
For people aged 70, 61% of those with Alzheimer's dementia are expected to die before the age of 80, compared with 30% of people without Alzheimer's dementia, according to the latest data from the Alzheimer's Association.
In 2025, the walk raised $73,965.
This year, the Jefferson City Walk to End Alzheimer's aims to raise $85,500, according to the Jefferson City walk's homepage.
In the United States, caring for those with Alzheimer’s and related dementias is projected to cost up to $1 trillion by 2050. Brown says there are more than 300,000 caregivers helping people with Alzeheimers across the state.
"Because we walk, we can contribute to research and to treatment, and we are able to help families on the journey," said Brown. "We're able to have support groups across not only Missouri, but all across the country."
The money raised also helps the Alzheimer's Association provide a free 24/7 hotline (1-800-272-3900), offering resources, support, assistance and information for anyone affected by Alzheimer's.
Brown says the Jefferson City community and committee has been working towards this walk since before summer.
"Our committee down there is so active bringing these things to life, whether it is mini walks put on by one of our sponsors," said Brown. "So all of those things are in action, and they've been happening all summer and so, to have this beautiful culmination happening this Saturday at Memorial Park, I have every confidence that the community's going to show up."
Join ABC 17 News in the fight against Alzheimer's and support the Jefferson City Walk to End Alzheimer's on Saturday at Memorial Park in Jefferson City.
If you are unable to walk due to mobility issues or other reasons, Brown says people can still come and enjoy the event.
"There are kids' zones; we have vendors that are out there; there's a deejay; there are hot dogs, so you can come and enjoy the fellowship of the day and the memory in all of those pieces," said Brown. "You don't have to walk, and if you want to go stroll the shaded path at Memorial Park, you can do that as well."
