January 12, 2010 6:30 PM
- Text
Poll: Nearly Half of Americans Concerned about Alzheimer's
This poll was taken as part of CBS News' "Where America Stands" series, an in-depth look at where the country stands today on key topics and an outlook for the future decade.
Nearly half of Americans are concerned they may one day be afflicted with Alzheimer's, a brain disease that mainly affects older Americans, a new CBS News poll shows. Just as many say they don't expect a cure for the disease to be found in their lifetimes.
Just a quarter of Americans give the country a grade of A or B when it comes to finding a cure for Alzheimer's disease, according to the poll, which was conducted from Dec. 17 – 22, 2009. Thirty-nine percent give the country a C, and another 27 percent give it a D or F. There are no differences by age.
Fifty-four percent of Americans expect a cure for Alzheimer's to be found in their lifetime, but 44 percent do not expect to see that happen. Those age 65 and over are most pessimistic about a cure being found in their lifetime; 19 percent in that group say that is not at all likely.
More than 5 million Americans currently suffer from Alzheimer's, CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook reports, and that number is expected to rise to as many as 16 million by 2050.
Dr. William Thies, chief medical and scientific officer for the Alzheimer's Association, told Dr. LaPook people should be demanding that more resources be put toward finding better treatment for Alzheimer's.
Twenty-three percent of Americans have had to care for a parent or relative with Alzheimer's.
CBSNews.com Special Report: Health Care
Among Americans overall, 45 percent are very or somewhat worried about getting Alzheimer's themselves someday, and 54 percent are not worried. Those who have had to take care of a relative with Alzheimer's are more likely to be worried; 58 percent of them are.
People under 30 are least likely to worry about getting this disease someday.
See More Stories and Videos from the Series: Where America Stands
Read the Complete Poll
This poll was conducted among a random sample of 1,048 adults nationwide, interviewed by telephone December 17-22, 2009. Phone numbers were dialed from random digit dial samples of both standard land-line and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups is higher.
This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.
(CBS)
Just a quarter of Americans give the country a grade of A or B when it comes to finding a cure for Alzheimer's disease, according to the poll, which was conducted from Dec. 17 – 22, 2009. Thirty-nine percent give the country a C, and another 27 percent give it a D or F. There are no differences by age.
Fifty-four percent of Americans expect a cure for Alzheimer's to be found in their lifetime, but 44 percent do not expect to see that happen. Those age 65 and over are most pessimistic about a cure being found in their lifetime; 19 percent in that group say that is not at all likely.
More than 5 million Americans currently suffer from Alzheimer's, CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook reports, and that number is expected to rise to as many as 16 million by 2050.
Dr. William Thies, chief medical and scientific officer for the Alzheimer's Association, told Dr. LaPook people should be demanding that more resources be put toward finding better treatment for Alzheimer's.
Twenty-three percent of Americans have had to care for a parent or relative with Alzheimer's.
CBSNews.com Special Report: Health Care
Among Americans overall, 45 percent are very or somewhat worried about getting Alzheimer's themselves someday, and 54 percent are not worried. Those who have had to take care of a relative with Alzheimer's are more likely to be worried; 58 percent of them are.
People under 30 are least likely to worry about getting this disease someday.
See More Stories and Videos from the Series: Where America Stands
Read the Complete Poll
This poll was conducted among a random sample of 1,048 adults nationwide, interviewed by telephone December 17-22, 2009. Phone numbers were dialed from random digit dial samples of both standard land-line and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups is higher.
This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.
-
Stephanie Condon Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
Follow on Twitter »
Popular Now in Politics
- Archbishop Dolan urges Obama to back down on birth control
- CPAC: Santorum rips Romney, rouses conservatives
- STOCK Act passes in House
- Santorum: Women could bring "emotions" to combat
- Obama to announce revamp of birth control policy
- After uproar, Obama tweaks birth control rule
- After Tues. sweep, Santorum seeks to gain speed
- Congressional approval hits another all-time low
- Former Giffords aide to run for her House seat
- Romney says his conservatism will shine
- Report: Chicago cardinal joins contraceptives fight
- Dems fight back in contraceptive battle
- Santorum's big benefactor
- Is Rick Santorum conservatives' last, best hope?
- What Does 'GOP' Stand For?
- CPAC: Huckabee "thanks" Obama for birth control firestorm
- No more Mr. Nice Guy for Santorum
Latest CBS News Headlines
on Facebook
on CBS News
- Summary Box: Alcatel-Lucent posts 2011 profit
- Al-Shabab, al Qaeda alliance a desperate bid?
- Summary Box: Commodities fall on Greece debt woes
- Banks could still face prosecution despite deal
on Facebook
- Adele sings a cappella for Anderson Cooper
- Josh Powell had "incestuous" images on his home computer, authorities say
- Adele sings a cappella for Anderson Cooper
on CBS News
