There are more Alzheimer's disease caregivers in the U.S. than once thought, says a new report released from the Alzheimer's Association. New information, the first since 2000, indicates a 37 percent increase in caregivers from the earlier figures. There are nearly 15 million Alzheimer's and dementia caregivers in the U.S. to accommodate over five million Alzheimer's patients, but that is still not enough, according to Dr. Maria Carrillo, senior director of Medical and Scientific Relations at the Alzheimer's Association.

"Caregivers have a huge amount of stress," Carrillo told AOL Health.

Some Alzheimer's patients receive assistance from caregivers at special establishments; however, many patients are cared for at home by unpaid friends or family members. Caregivers provide 17 billion hours, or $200 billion, of free care per year. Sixty-one percent of caregivers say the stress level was "high" or "very high," and 33 percent reported depression linked to care giving.

"Fifteen million caregivers are still not sufficient," says Carrillo who indicates 40 percent of patients live through the most extreme moments of their disease that require 24-hour attention from their care givers, including changing of clothes, bathing, monitoring and balancing sleep and activeness, feeding, and other tasks to care for their loved one.

In addition, the report estimates 5.4 million Americans are now suffering from Alzheimer's disease. The Alzheimer's Association hints that number could rise to 16 million by 2050 if more effective treatments are not developed to assist with brain disorders, such as memory problems, impaired judgment, confusion, behavior changes, and difficulty speaking, swallowing, and walking, caused by the disease.

Carrillo stresses the importance of an early diagnosis when treating and coping with Alzheimer's. Nailing down the diagnosis can help explain negative, questionable, and otherwise unexplainable behavior from a loved one. An early diagnosis also gives the patient enough time to consider participation in clinical trails and allows a family to better prepare for future treatment or care.

According to the report, the annual health care cost, including long-term and hospice care, for Alzheimer's is now $183 billion -- an increase of $11 billion from the 2010 figure.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia and accounts for 60 to 80 percent of cases, according to the Alzheimer's Association. In addition, it is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S.

On average, Alzheimer's victims survive four to eight years after diagnosis. Rift Gold Some can live as long as 20 years, which can be a financial nightmare for loved ones.

Currently, there are no treatments that will slow down the progression of Alzheimer's, RIFT Platinum setting it apart from other top killing diseases, but experts are getting closer. Clinical testing in humans is being conducted for about 75 experimental therapies used to slow or stop the progression of Alzheimer's. Six drugs are in the final phase III stage.

"The Alzheimer's Association has several programs to help those caring with Alzheimer's patients," Carrillo says. rift gold The Alzheimer's Association website offers assistance with finding care, locating support groups, suggestions and help for family communication, and other resources. Their 800 number, 800.272.3900, provides answers for questions from daily care to telling a patient about their diagnosis.

"People think you can live with Alzheimer's," RIFT Platinum Carrillo explains. "But you can actually die from it."