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Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease. Alzheimer's disease is a form of dementia responsible for 60-70% of all dementia cases. Alzheimer's disease happens mostly in older people. The chance of getting Alzheimer’s disease gradually increases the older someone gets.

In Europe, Germany has the highest median population. This high median population means that they have a relatively old population. This population is susceptible to Alzheimer’s disease, as Alzheimer's disease happens mostly to people who are older than 65. In Germany, currently, 1,5 million people have Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease was responsible for 10000 deaths in 2020 in Germany.

Germany’s senior population
Germany has the second highest median age in Europe, with a median age of 44,8, meaning that 50% of Germany's population is older than 44,8. This high median age makes them the second oldest country in Europe after Monaco and the 4th highest in the world. 20,8% of the German population is older than 65. 18,4 million. This rate is the second-highest rate in the European Union (source). In Germany, 6,1 million people are older than 80, making up 6,42% of the population. It is predicted that the percentage of senior people in Germany is going to increase in the coming years. In 2030 it is expected that one-third of the population will be older than 60. Researchers anticipate that Germany will face several age-related problems, including Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease
Dementia is an incurable disease that happens mostly at older ages (Doblhamer, 2015). Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disease that affects the brain. The first symptoms develop slowly but gradually worsen (2015). The first symptoms are often confusion and memory loss, but could eventually change personality and behavior (Dolbhamer, 2015). Other symptoms are disorientation and speech problems (xxx). Alzheimer’s disease affects the nerve cells and synapses in the brain to stop working, stopping communication between the brain cells (2015). This process causes the brain cells to die, disfiguring the brain. This process is predictable and starts from areas in the brain involved with learning and memory and moves towards areas of the brain that have to do with speech (2015). The exact cause of Alzheimer's disease is not known, but most researchers believe it is 70% genetic (xxx). Other factors influencing the probability to get Alzheimer's disease are education level, smoking, midlife obesity, and alcohol intake (2011). Alzheimer’s disease could eventually lead to death. Alzheimer's disease is often seen as a major predictor of death (Baldereschi, 1999)

Alzheimer’s disease cases in Germany
Due to the old population of Germany, which keeps getting older, dementia is a big problem in Germany (Dolbhamer, 2013). This problem will only increase due to the current demographic developments, where the population keeps getting older (Dolbhamer, 2013). Research has shown that in 2050 Germany could have 1,7-2.7 million people with dementia (Dolhamer, 2013).

In Germany, the chance of dementia at age 65 is 2%, doubling approximately every five years. At eighty, the chance to get dementia has increased to roughly 16% (Dolbhamer, 2013). Dementia is the 4th most common cause of death in Germany, after cardiovascular disease, cancer, and cerebrovascular disease (Bickel 2003). Dementia is one of the most expensive diseases in old age because the victims need medical care (Leicht et al., 2011). In 2020 Germany had 9450 deaths due to Alzheimer’s disease.

There is a significant spatial difference in the occurrence of Alzheimer's in Germany, as people in East Germany have a higher chance of Alzheimer's disease than in West Germany. This difference in the risk of Alzheimer's disease coincides with the levels of the main factors of dementia. The factors at play in the divide between East and West Germany, are smoking behavior, blood pressure, and obesity (Dolbhammer et al. 2015).

Alzheimer’s disease healthcare in Germany
Alzheimer's disease care in Germany is extensive and mostly paid for by health insurance or out-of-pocket expenses (Leicht, 2011). In Germany, health insurance is mandatory, meaning that everyone in Germany has access to care for Alzheimer’s disease (Busse et al., 2017)

The care of Alzheimer’s disease patients depends on how severe the Alzheimer's disease is. The care can range from living in a nursing home to receiving professional help at home, hospital visits, and therapy.

The growing amount of dementia cases has repercussions for healthcare in Germany, as people with dementia need significant care (Dolbhamer, 2013). This increase in demand could lead to a shortage of Formal and Informal healthcare workers (Dolbhammer & Ziegler 2010). This demand for more healthcare workers has raised the costs of the care needed by dementia patients (Leicht, 2011).