The number of Alzheimer patients is growing rapidly, so is that of unpaid caregivers, says a report released Tuesday by the Alzheimer's Association.

HTML clipboard Alzheimer's disease patient Carlos Alberto Henriques, 65, drinks water through a syringe with the help of his wife Maria Elvira Boavida (unseen) in their house in Lisbon September 15, 2009. (Xinhua/Reuters File Photo) 
Nearly 15 million caregivers, most of them family members but also friends, are providing billions of hours of unpaid care for Alzheimer's patients and other forms of dementia in the U.S. — 37 percent more than last year, the report says.

Alzheimer's is the sixth leading cause of death in the nation, and the only one among the top 10 that have no prevention or cure, says William Thies, chief medical and scientific officer of the Alzheimer's Association.

However, if people were more aware of early symptoms and were diagnosed sooner, then planning could help ease stress on patients and caregivers, according to Beth Kallmyer, senior director of constituent services of Alzheimer's Association.

"The toll on families is devastating," says Kallmyer, "Stress is extremely high, and one-third are experiencing depression."

The time and stress of caring for an Alzheimer’s patient takes a physical toll, translating into nearly 8 billion dollars worth of extra health care costs for caregivers, the report says. (Agencies)

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