Dear Quartz members—
The world is aging, and spending more and more on health care as a result. But a single affliction accounts for nearly 10% of those costs: dementia. This week’s field guide is about treating the growing number of patients with dementia while defusing the rapidly escalating cost of doing so.
In her state of play, Quartz health and science reporter Katherine Foley walks through the science and economics of dementia, explaining the umbrella of diseases that it includes and what we know about how to prevent them. Dementia currently affects 5-8% of people over the age of 55, a cohort that’s growing rapidly as life expectancy increases around the world.
But preventions and treatments remain elusive, and so early detection of dementia is among the most important things we can do to improve life for both patients and their loved ones, Katherine reports. Researchers at Penn State have created a mobile app in which users play quick memory games throughout the day, a strategy they hope will someday allow for early detection of dementia without a doctor’s visit. We should also take a lesson from cancer, Katherine writes, and make palliative care a part of dementia care, too.
However, there is no medical answer to the heartbreak that comes with talking to a parent about cognitive decline. In this reported essay, Katherine interviews people close to her who are caring for a parent with dementia–including her own parents who cared for her grandfather.
Finally, Quartz reporter Youyou Zhou provides the data on dementia in an interactive article. You can see how quickly different countries are aging as well as how the likelihood of a dementia diagnosis differs by age, gender, and more.
TO DISCUSS WITH FRIENDS OVER DINNER…
- Dementia costs the world roughly $1 trillion a year, according to an estimate by Alzheimer’s Disease International. And the organization projects that costs will double over the next decade.
- The probability of dementia rises from 1% for people in their 60s to close to 30% for people over 90, globally.
- By 85, about 20% of women will have some form of dementia, compared to 10% of men.
- The median cost for assisted-living facilities in the US is $48,000 per year.
CONFERENCE CALL SCHEDULE
Wed., Dec. 4, 11am ET: Quartz lifestyle correspondent Jenni Avins and culture editor Oliver Staley will discuss last week’s field guide on the transformation economy.
Thurs., Dec. 5, 11am ET: Quartz senior reporter for law and politics Ephrat Livni and geopolitics editor Peter Gelling will talk about the ongoing Trump impeachment inquiry. They’ll review the latest developments and discuss what’s coming next.
Fri., Dec. 6, 11am ET: Quartz science and health reporter Katherine Foley and science editor Katie Palmer will discuss the costs of dementia, and how to limit them. They’ll cover why dementia represents such a large part of the cost of aging, why its prevalence is only going to rise, and how early detection could help everyone involved.
We’ll be taking questions and comments live on the video conference call at this time, accessible at the usual location. You can also send questions in advance to members@qz.com.
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For all of the numbers, the access code is 722 994 440. And you can find recordings of our past video calls here.
With best wishes for a productive week,
Walter Frick
Membership editor, Quartz