Over 7M Americans over 65 have Alzheimer's

According to the report, around one in nine people aged 65 and older (11%) have dementia believed to be caused by Alzheimer's. Specifically, the report said that 7.2 million adults are estimated to have Alzheimer's nationally, up from 6.9 million last year.

Nearly two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer's are women, according to the report, which also found that Alzheimer's risk increases with age — 5.1% of people ages 65 to 74 have Alzheimer's while 33.4% of people ages 85 and older have it.

The highest rates of adults aged 65 and older with Alzheimer's were in Washington, D.C. (16.8%), Maryland (12.9%), and New York (12.7%).

"It doesn't surprise me" that incidence of Alzheimer's has increased, because the population is aging and "we're becoming more sophisticated in our options for diagnosing and testing for Alzheimer's disease," said Lakelyn Eichenberger, a gerontologist and caregiving advocate at Home Instead.

Eichenberger added that early action is critical for managing Alzheimer's and accessing new treatments. It's important to watch out for warning signs in high-risk age groups, including:

• Trouble finding the right word
• Difficulty judging distances
• Misplacing things and struggling to retrace steps

"If you're seeing patterns of these types of signs over an extended period of time," it could be time to see a healthcare provider about cognitive decline, Eichenberger said.

7 things you can do if your memory starts to slip

Changes in memory as you age can be normal. "It might become more difficult to access things as quickly, but you get into that state of, 'If you give me a couple minutes, or you give me a cue or a clue, then yes, it'll come back,'" said Daniel Lesley, a neurologist at Remo Health. "You aren't quite as sharp as you were, but as long as you can set up strategies for yourself — like learning to write things down — you can make information much more accessible and know what's important."

Here are seven strategies Lesley recommends to keep your brain sharp if you notice your memory starting to slip.

1. Figure out if what's happening is reversible.

If you've noticed you have lapses in memory more frequently, mention it to your primary care doctor, and be ready to share specific examples. It's possible you're experiencing something reversible.

"Anybody of any age can look like they have some form of dementia if they’re very stressed, if their sleep is poor, if their B12 is low, or if they have an ongoing infection or inflammation or some other psychological thing happening," Lesley said.

For example, infections like Lyme disease and autoimmune diseases like lupus have been linked to brain fog that causes cognitive issues like trouble concentrating or recalling words, as well as a decrease in working memory, which allows people to do tasks and solve problems without looking up information.

"If you feel that you're having problems, look at the things we can fix," Lesley said.

2. Start a routine.

The more things in your life you can automate, the more you'll be able to focus on whatever you're doing at the moment.

"If you're juggling a crazy schedule that always changes, or you're putting things in different places, then you're having to relearn or redo the same things differently every time," Lesley said. "That's a cognitive load."

Instead, make a point of doing your activities at the same time every day, and consider even setting alarms to stay on schedule. Set up spots where you always put your keys or your glasses and make a to-do list that you cross off as you go along.

3. Exercise your brain.

Many games that advertise themselves as "brain games" don't actually help you stay sharp. For example, if you play a computer game where you follow a fish with your cursor, "then you'll be good at using a mouse to catch fish," Lesley said. "It doesn't necessarily translate to anything that matters to you."

Instead prioritize utilizing your cognitive reserves for continuing education, like signing up for a class that interests you or using an app to learn a new language, Lesley suggests.

6. Reduce clutter.

Lesley recommends keeping your life as uncomplicated as you can. That doesn't just mean keeping an eye on how much stuff is on your desk or in your office — even wall art matters.

"If you've got different pictures on every part of your wall, and you're getting distracted every time by a different picture, then there's more to keep track of," Lesley said. Keeping things more minimalist could help your brain health.

7. Take care of any financial concerns immediately.

Tending to financial concerns efficiently can help curb stress and anxiety. Creating a budget, planning for the future, and hiring professional help if you need it around financial concerns can be good for your brain.

"The anxiety of living on the edge actually can drop your IQ," Lesley said. Research has found that when farmers are dealing with financial problems like damage to their crops, for example, their IQ dropped 13 points compared to when they weren't anxious about financial stability.

Not every financial concern is in your control, but taking care of the ones that are and incorporating a financial routine "will do wonders in terms of memory and thinking," Lesley said.