{"id":3702,"date":"2018-02-13T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-02-13T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-us\/insightsaddressing-memory-decline-and-dementia\/"},"modified":"2023-11-01T11:05:22","modified_gmt":"2023-11-01T15:05:22","slug":"addressing-memory-decline-and-dementia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-us\/insights\/addressing-memory-decline-and-dementia","title":{"rendered":"Addressing memory decline and dementia"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dementia and Alzheimer\u2019s<\/h4>

Declining mental capacity may impact your or a family member\u2019s independence in later years. Increasingly common, a dementia diagnosis can be financially devastating.<\/p>

Following a dementia diagnosis<\/h4>

4.5
years<\/h3>

Life expectancy1<\/span><\/sup><\/p> <\/div>

+$32K<\/h3>

Incremental annual
per-person cost of care2<\/sup><\/p> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>

Alzheimer\u2019s is the most common form of dementia, affecting over five million Americans, and the numbers are growing. Projections show that the condition is expected to impact 16 million Americans by the middle of this century.<\/p>

Impact on women<\/h4>

Cognitive decline disproportionately impacts women, who make up nearly two-thirds of Alzheimer\u2019s patients and represent 60 percent of the caregivers.<\/p>

While there is no cure for dementia or Alzheimer\u2019s yet, managing quality of life and protecting seniors requires recognition of the issue and a plan to take action.<\/p>

\"after<\/figure>

Warning signs<\/h4>

Dementia can be tough to discern from simple memory lapses or forgetfulness as we age. Changes may be subtle and vague and increase slowly over long periods. Often changes in one\u2019s ability to handle financial matters are an early indicator of a problem.<\/p>

Experts list several warning signs that may signal its onset:<\/p>