By William Vega
NYU clinical professor Yvonne Latty never expected the hardships faced as a caregiver for her mother living with Alzheimer’s. From the 24/7 care to the rising medical bills, the experience has been overwhelming. Her attempts to access a diagnosis and treatment for her mother in the Bronx left her angry, frustrated and confused. A doctor smugly suggested Yvonne “Google” her mother’s condition and devise a plan for her with the help of URLs.
Stories like Latty’s are common as the rapid aging of 55 million Latinos puts the country’s largest minority group in the crosshairs of a disease that often goes unnamed in obituaries and physicians’ offices. Yet, Alzheimer’s growing prevalence will have far-reaching consequences for Latino families and the nation, according to a new report from the USC Roybal Institute on Aging and LatinosAgainstAlzheimer’s, a network of UsAgainstAlzheimer’s.
Alzheimer’s and Latinos: New Numbers Behind the Crisis finds the number of Latinos in the U.S. living with Alzheimer’s could increase from 379,000 in 2012 to 3.5 million by 2060―a growth of 832 percent―if a medical breakthrough is not discovered that cures or slows the progression of the disease. As the number of Latino families touched by Alzheimer’s increases, the report finds the economic impact on the Latino community will reach a cumulative $2.35 trillion by 2060, largely due to costs associated with the intensive care required.