About 85 percent more patients due to Alzheimer's in the clinic

19 049 patients treated for Alzheimer's in the hospital
More and more people are hospitalized due to Alzheimer's disease. As reported by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) on the occasion of World Alzheimer's Day on 21 September, 19 049 patients were hospitalized in 2015 for Alzheimer's disease. Thus, the number of inpatient cases has risen by 85 percent in the last 15 years. For men, the increase during this period was even 125% (to 7 578 cases), for women 65% (to 11 471 cases).

More and more people in a hospital due to Alzheimer's. (Image: bmf-foto.de/fotolia.com)

First warning signs are a constant repetition of the same narratives, questions or phrases in older people. Decreasing to completely no longer exists the completion of everyday business, such as personal care and appearance, money transactions, answering simple questions and finding everyday objects. Later, loss of motor functions and emotional unpredictability are often added, which means constant care for those affected. The situation is very distressing for the social environment and family members of Alzheimer's patients. (Sb)