In 2010, there were 4.7 million Americans with Alzheimer’s Disease. According to a new study published in the journal Neurology, that number is projected to rise to 13.8 million by 2050. The projected increase indicates a great need in the coming years for better treatment, more caregivers, and expanded research into the disease, including the search for a cure.
The reason for the projected rise have to do with the fact that risk for the disease increases with age. The baby boomer population numbers 78 million people – a quarter of the population – and that generation is expected to live much longer than previous generations as lifespans increase.
Alzheimer’s Disease is currently the sixth most common cause of death in the United States, with one out of every eight Americans over the age of 65 living with the disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Those living with the disease have difficulty with speech and motor skills and have trouble recognizing people and objects.
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