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Statistics say that this year alone we can potentially save more than
200,000 of our loved ones from getting this monstrous disease.
By Patrick Ellis
This page is based on my research of the statistics regarding Alzheimer’s disease and the effect that chess has on preventing the disease. First some general facts. Comments by The Silver Knights in italic letters.
An estimated 5.1 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease in 2007. 1
Ilzheimer's disease will kill you. It destroys brain cells and causes memory changes, erratic behaviors and loss of body functions. It slowly and painfully takes away your identity, ability to connect with others, think, eat, talk, walk and find your way home. 7
Every 72 seconds, someone in America develops Alzheimer’s disease; by mid-century, someone will develop Alzheimer’s every 33 seconds. 1
An estimated 10 percent over age 65 have Alzheimer’s. Nearly 50% of those 85 or older have Alzheimer's disease. 5
The number of people age 65 and over with Alzheimer’s disease is estimated to be 7.7 million in 2030, a greater than 50 percent increase over the number currently affected. 1
The annual cost of caring for one individual with Alzheimer's disease ranges from nearly $18,500 to more than $36,000, depending on the stage of the disease. 6
Alzheimer's disease is the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. 7
Alzheimer's can strike people in their 30s, 40s and 50s. Of the 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer's disease, some 500,000 people under age 65 have Alzheimer's or a related disorder. 7
By 2050, the number of individuals age 65 and over with Alzheimer’s could range from 11 million to 16 million unless science finds a way to prevent or effectively treat the disease. By that date, more than 60 percent of people with Alzheimer’s disease will be age 85+. 1
Science, or at least The Silver Knights has already found a very effective way to prevent Alzheimer’s disease. It’s called chess!
An article about Dr. Robert P. Friedland an associate professor of neurology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine says “Adults with hobbies that exercise their brains — such as reading, jigsaw puzzles or chess — are 2.50 times less likely to have Alzheimer's disease, while leisure limited to TV watching may increase the risk, a study says.” 2
This “2.50 less likely” converts to “60 percent less likely.” 3
About 400,000 new cases of Alzheimer’s disease will be diagnosed this year alone. 8
Doing the math, 400,000 x .6 = If every senior took the “chess pill” we could save 240,000 lives leaving only 160,000 who get the disease.
The direct and indirect costs of Alzheimer’s and other dementias amount to more than $148 billion annually. 7
148 billion divided by 5.1 million means that each Alzheimer’s patient costs 29,019 dollars per year to care for.
If the Silver Knights saves all the people we can potentially save- 240,000 x 29,019= means we save the United States 6 billion, 964 million, 560 thousand dollars.
$6,964,560,000 in addition to saving 240,000 people from a horrible death.
The cost in materials to teach seniors how to play chess is about $100 dollars in materials.
"Every day, 5,574 Americans turn 65, says John Mlekush, marketing consultant in Austin for the senior-products group of Wells Fargo, a leading lender of reverse mortgages." http://www.texasreversemortgage.com/cashflow.htm
5, 574 x 356 = each day 2,034,510 Americans turn 65 years old. If volunteer coaches (remember there are also 2,034,510 retirees and potential Silver Knights each day too!) taught them chess with an overhead of $100 in materials that would be only 203,451,000 dollars in cost. 100 dollars in a one time investment vs. 29,019 per year in caring for the Alzheimer’s patient…We will let you decide which is the best investment.
Remember when we teach 100 students aged 65, we save the lives of 6 people! (10 percent of all people age 65 get Alzheimer’s. If those 10 people are 60 percent less likely to get Alzheimer’s- statistics says 6 will live and 4 will contract Alzheimer’s)
Even more to think about, should all those 100 seniors age 65 become live to be 85, we have then saved 25 lives! (Since 42% of 85 year olds get Alzheimer’s then 42 of
Those 100, 85 year olds should contract Alzheimer’s 1 42 x .6 = 25 people we save!)
Sure, we can’t teach everyone chess. Some won’t want to learn. But we need to try to save as many of our loved ones as possible, don’t we?
Patrick Ellis
Coach Patrick
National Head of the Silver Knights
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