KETV Chronicle: Teaming Up In Fight Against Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. It’s the only disease in the top 10 that cannot be prevented, cured, even slowed down.

The sheer number of people, more than five million Americans, are living with Alzheimer's now. And at the current rate, by 2050 more than 16 million will have the disease. Currently a half million die from it every year.

Women in particular are at risk. Once she hits her 60s a woman has a one in six chance of developing Alzheimer's. Almost two-thirds of those with the disease are women. They're also more than two and half times more likely to provide care for a loved one and that is a huge commitment.  

It’s why finding a cure, or at least a way to slow Alzheimer's progression, is so important.

Dr. Rebecca Reilly, medical director of the Methodist Hospital Geriatric Management Clinic, joined Viv Ewing with the Alzheimer's Association to discuss the disease on KETV's Chronicle.