Facts on Alzheimer's disease in the U.S.

(Reuters) - Nearly 15 million Americans are now caring for a family member or friend with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias, a figure that is expected to climb steadily unless new treatments are found, according to a new report released on Tuesday by the Alzheimer's Association.

Here are some key facts from the report.

Caregivers:

* The number of Americans who care for a person with dementia has reached nearly 15 million.

* 80 percent of Alzheimer's care provided at home is delivered by family members. Fewer than 10 percent of older adults receive all of their care from paid workers.

* 60 percent of family caregivers and other unpaid caregivers are women. Most Alzheimer's caregivers are 55 or older, married and have less than a college degree, and 70 percent are white.

* People who care for someone with Alzheimer's and other types of dementia often still work, but many say they have had to make major changes -- such as shifting to a part time job or giving up health benefits -- because of their caregiving responsibilities.

* Caregivers may become potential "secondary patients" because of the stress and worry of taking care of an Alzheimer's patient.

* The physical and emotional impact of caring for someone with Alzheimer's and other dementias could cost the United States an additional $7.9 billion in health costs.

Patients:

* An estimated 5.4 million Americans will have Alzheimer's disease in 2011, up from 5.3 million in 2010.

* The risk of Alzheimer's increases with age. Of the 5.4 million Americans with the disease, an estimated 4 percent are under 65, 6 percent are 65 to 74, 45 percent are 75 to 84, and 45 percent are 85 or older.

* By 2030, the number of people aged 65 and older with Alzheimer's disease is estimated to reach 7.7 million -- a 50 percent increase from the current 5.2 million.

* By 2050, the number of people aged 65 and older with Alzheimer's disease may triple, rising from the current 5.2 million to a projected 11 million to 16 million, barring the development of effective treatments.

* Nearly two-thirds of all Americans living with Alzheimer's are women. Of the 5.2 million people over age 65 with Alzheimer's, 3.4 million are women and 1.8 million are men. This imbalance may be because women live longer on average than men.

Source: Alzheimer's Association 2011 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures

(Reporting by Julie Steenhuysen in Chicago; Editing by Doina Chiacu)