Alzheimer’s disease, the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S., was first identified more than 100 years ago, but research into its symptoms, causes, risk factors and treatment has gained momentum only in the last 30 years.
A special report on Alzheimer's disease in the U.S. found that 11% of people age 65 and older have Alzheimer’s disease. The number of people age 65 and older with the disease may nearly triple by 2050, from 5 million to a projected 13.8 million.
If you've made it to the Golden Years, then you already know how much your body has changed since you were twenty-two. Guess what? It's OK. That's how it's supposed to be. It's the circle of life, after all.
That said, because your body has changed, it deserves a medical practitioner who has a thorough understanding of these changes: what they mean today and what they could mean tomorrow. And that's where a geriatric doctor comes in.
We talked about the many benefits of seeing a geriatric physician in this blog post. Now, let's talk about what you can expect when you work with one.
