International Survey Reveals Attitudes Towards Alzheimer’s Diagnosis and Treatment

PARIS, July 20, 2011 -

- Alzheimer’s Disease Feared
Second Only to Cancer -

- Majority Would Seek A Diagnosis to Explain Memory Loss and
Confusion -

A survey reported today at the Alzheimer’s Association®
International Conference 2011 (AAIC 2011) in Paris by Alzheimer
Europe and administered by the Harvard School of Public Health
reveals that while people fear Alzheimer’s second only to cancer,
the overwhelming majority would go to the doctor, or take a loved
one for evaluation, if they saw symptoms of memory loss and
confusion.

Concerns that people with early symptoms of Alzheimer’s might
not seek medical evaluation, and thus miss opportunities for early
detection and medical intervention, led Alzheimer Europe to survey
the public about their attitudes and beliefs concerning the
disease.

“The reason for the survey is the importance of promoting early
Alzheimer’s diagnosis, and the fact that early diagnosis is
included in national dementia plans in England, France, Norway and
Scotland,” said Jean Georges, Executive Director of Alzheimer
Europe. “In Europe, we are still encountering resistance from some
in the medical profession due to their nihilistic views regarding
the value of an early diagnosis and the benefits of current
treatments. We were hoping that a public opinion survey would show
a willingness to gain a diagnosis and the value of confronting the
disease.”

Data reported at AAIC 2011 are derived from a five-country
survey conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health. The study
was supported by a grant to Alzheimer Europe from Bayer. A total of
2,678 adults aged 18 and over were interviewed by telephone in
France (n=529), Germany (n=499), Poland (n=509), Spain (n=502), and
the United States (n=639) in February 2011.

“According to the World Alzheimer’s Report 2010, Alzheimer’s is
the most significant social and health crisis of the 21st century,”
said William Thies, PhD, Alzheimer’s Association Chief Medical and
Scientific Officer. “The overwhelming numbers of people whose lives
will be altered by Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, combined with
the staggering economic burden on families and nations, make
Alzheimer’s the defining disease of this generation. However, if
governments act urgently to develop national research and care
strategies with appropriate smart investment, the impact of
Alzheimer’s and dementia can be managed.”

In four of the five counties, Alzheimer’s was the disease that
people were second most afraid of getting, behind cancer. In the
fifth country, Poland, Alzheimer’s was third behind cancer and
heart disease. The percentage of respondents who most feared
getting cancer/Alzheimer’s were: France 41.0/26.9 percent, Germany
43.8/23.0 percent, Poland 43.1/12.1 percent, Spain 48.5/23.6
percent, U.S. 39.3/21.9 percent. A large proportion of respondents
were worried that they or a family member will get Alzheimer’s,
with significant differences between the countries (43 percent to
95 percent).

This strong fear exists even though the survey shows that
Alzheimer’s is under recognized as a fatal disease, especially
outside the U.S. The percentage of people who answered “yes” to the
question, “Do you think that Alzheimer’s disease is a fatal disease
or not?” was: France 44.4 percent, Germany 32.7 percent, Poland
34.3 percent, Spain 41.7 percent, U.S. 61.0 percent

A very high percentage of respondents - more than eight in ten
(85-95 percent) in each of the five countries - said that if they
were exhibiting confusion or memory loss, they would go to a doctor
to determine if the cause of the symptoms was Alzheimer’s disease.
The numbers were even higher (94-99 percent) for wanting a family
member experiencing memory loss to see a doctor for evaluation.

Many of the respondents believe there is now an effective
medical or pharmaceutical treatment to slow the progression of
Alzheimer’s disease and make the symptoms less severe (27-63
percent). Between 38 and 59 percent believed there was a reliable
test currently available to determine if a person is in the early
stages of Alzheimer’s disease (though neither of these statements
is true).

“Many of the public have high expectations about the
possibilities of treatment alternatives and medical testing. It is
important for doctors to talk to patients about what treatment and
testing options are or are not available,” said Robert Blendon,
ScD, Professor of Health Policy and Political Analysis from the
Harvard School of Public Health.

Respondents expressed strong support for increasing government
spending for research on new treatments for Alzheimer’s disease:
France 82.6 percent, Germany 68.2 percent, Poland 74.7 percent,
Spain 83.0 percent, U.S. 67.4 percent. However, the majority of
survey respondents said it “would not make much difference” in how
they voted for a candidate for national office.

“The fear and concern uncovered by our survey is evidence of the
urgency with which the public wants the Alzheimer’s issue
addressed, and eventually eliminated. Governments should follow the
expressed desires of their constituents and increase funding for
Alzheimer’s research,” Georges said.

“The willingness to get a diagnosis that was expressed by the
survey respondents is encouraging, however better public education
is needed. We need to address potentially unrealistic expectations
about the availability of a definitive early test and effective
treatment for the disease, while providing positive reasons for
seeking a diagnosis in the absence of disease modifying
treatments,” Georges added.

About AAIC
The Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) is the
world’s largest conference of its kind, bringing together
researchers from around the world to report and discuss
groundbreaking research and information on the cause, diagnosis,
treatment and prevention of Alzheimer’s disease and related
disorders.  As a part of the Alzheimer’s Association’s
research program, AAIC serves as a catalyst for generating new
knowledge about dementia and fostering a vital, collegial research
community.

About the Alzheimer’s Association
The Alzheimer’s Association is the world’s leading voluntary health
organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Our mission
is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of
research, to provide and enhance care and support for all affected,
and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain
health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s. Visit href="www.alz.org/">www.alz.org or call
800-272-3900.

Alzheimer’s Association media line: +1-312-335-4078, media at alz.org; AAIC 2011 press room, July 16-21: +33-(0)1-57-25-20-35