CBS 60 Minutes: Memory Care Threat Looms for Oldest Seniors

CBS 60 Minutes recently aired a two-part series on “Living to 90 and Beyond” that explores an ongoing study of the nation’s oldest old and the growing threat of dementia in this population. 

“We are a nation getting older,” the segment begins, “… it’s giving us more time—literally—to start to lose our minds.”

Dementia and in particular Alzheimer’s is a looming threat and is the primary focus of the study covered in the CBS series, given the projected growth of the 90+ population: it’s expected to quadruple by the end of the century, the segment says.

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Alzheimer’s and dementia diagnoses are going to grow during that time period, too: the risk of developing dementia doubles every five years starting at age 65, says a researcher leading the UC-Irvine study. 

“We are going to have to more people with dementia over the age of 90 than we currently have at all ages put together,” she told 60 Minutes in the segment. “We should be [thinking about it].” 

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Above is Part I of the series; click here to watch Part II.

Written by Alyssa Gerace