The Crisis in Care
In the United States more than 5 million people suffer from dementia related diseases, the largest of this group being Alzheimer’s disease. The goal of The Big Picture Project is to offer effective non-pharmacological intervention options for patients as well as supporting and educating caregivers.
Traditional Treatment for Alzheimer’s: Pharmaceuticals
Current Alzheimer’s patients with behavioral and psychological symptoms are treated almost exclusively with pharmaceuticals, even though no drug has FDA approval for treatment of those symptoms.
The drugs that are typically prescribed offer marginal efficacy and can cause harm, even death. Pharmaceuticals offer effective interventions for many diseases, but so far offer little for patients with dementia.
The drugs that are typically prescribed offer marginal efficacy and can cause harm, even death. Pharmaceuticals offer effective interventions for many diseases, but so far offer little for patients with dementia.
• Alzheimer's and dementia triple healthcare costs for Americans age 65 and older.
• Alzheimer's is the seventh-leading cause of death.
• The direct and indirect costs of Alzheimer's and other dementias to Medicare, Medicaid and businesses amount to more than $148 billion each year.
• Every 70 seconds, someone develops Alzheimer’s.
*Alzheimer's Association 2008: Year in Alzheimer Science
• Alzheimer's is the seventh-leading cause of death.
• The direct and indirect costs of Alzheimer's and other dementias to Medicare, Medicaid and businesses amount to more than $148 billion each year.
• Every 70 seconds, someone develops Alzheimer’s.
*Alzheimer's Association 2008: Year in Alzheimer Science
