Dementia On the Rise : Why? The Struggle for Reality?

I wonder why the prediction is for such a rise in the number of cases of Dementia? What is it among our society that causes people to lose their grip on reality?

I wonder if it's the constant struggle to understand why prosperity and individual freedom is now seen as a bad thing by so many. People in this age bracket grew up knowing how great it was to be able to decide one's own fate through hard work and dedication, but to now see this precept go by the boards as old fashioned and out dated.

The older generation can't come to grips with what they see as nonsense, a total lack of common sense to believe the 'collective', progressive socialism, is more important then freedom of thought and action.

What's important now is a willingness to accept the decisions of others as a means to simply survive. To excel in life's work is no longer seen as a viable solution for success. Accepting the fact that so many now believe that being a tool for others to use as they see fit to achieve a fundamental change to our country, a country that has given them everything, is too much for the 'greatest' generation to understand.

One in Three Elderly Have Dementia When They Die
March 22, 2013
Source:  Janice Lloyd, "One in Three Elderly Have Dementia When They Die," USA Today, March 19, 2013.

A new study from the Alzheimer's Association shows that deaths from Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia have increased 68 percent from 2000 to 2010. The report also says that dementia is the second largest contributor to death after heart failure. The data for the study was collected from Medicare and Medicaid reports, says USA Today.

The report's findings include:

• One in three seniors dies from a form of dementia.
• Deaths from heart disease, HIV/AIDS and stroke have declined.
• Dementia is the second largest contributor to death after heart failure.
• Health care, long-term care and hospice care are expected to increase to $1.2 trillion by 2050 for patients age 65 and older.
• Medicare costs for seniors with Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia are nearly three times higher than for seniors without any form of dementia.
• Medicaid costs are 19 times higher for seniors with a form of dementia than for seniors without dementia.
• Stress on caregivers is estimated to result in more than $9 billion in increased health care costs.
• The number of Alzheimer's cases is expected to rise from 5.2 million to 13.8 million by 2050.