Complain about a product or service

Alzheimer's Cases Up 10% In 5 Years

March 21, 2007

• Too Much Selenium Can Increase Cholesterol • Money Management Problems Could Be Alzheimer's Warning • Mediterranean Diet Linked With Lower Risk Of Alzheimer's Disease • High Cholesterol In Midlife Raises Risk Of Late-Life Dementia • Some Blood Pressure Drugs May Help Protect Against Dementia • Study Suggests Earlier Alzheimer's Treatment • Alzheimer's Cases Rise Among "Oldest Old" • Researchers Find Caffeine Effective Alzheimer’s Treatment • Landmark Alzheimer's Drug Cleared For Clinical Trials • Blood Test May Diagnose Alzheimer's • Diet May Be Factor in Memory Retention • Insulin May Combat Alzheimer's • Moderate Drinking Can Reduce Risks of Alzheimer's • Daily Pill Said To Stop Alzheimer's • Low Levels of 'Good Cholesterol' Linked to Memory Loss, Dementia Risk • Chemical in Celery May Fight Alzheimer's • Dementia Linked To Obesity • Studies Find Link Between Diabetes and Alzheimer's --- • Index to all Alzheimer's stories

A new report says 5 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer's disease, and that number could grow sharply as the Baby Boomers move into old age. The report by the Alzheimer's Association says the number of cases is up 10 percent from just 5 years ago.

This number includes 4.9 million people over the age of 65 and between 200,000 and 500,000 people under age 65 with early-onset Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, according to researchers.

The greatest risk factor for Alzheimer's is increasing age, and with 78 million baby boomers beginning to turn 60 last year, the group estimates that someone in America develops Alzheimer's every 72 seconds; by mid-century someone will develop Alzheimer's every 33 seconds.

The new estimates, as well as other data concerning the disease and its effects, were issued as hundreds of advocates from across the country gather in Washington, DC, for the Alzheimer's Association's annual Public Policy Forum. The report was released at a hearing chaired by Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), who, along with other lawmakers, introduced bipartisan legislation to address problems identified in the Association's report.

Alzheimer's disease now is the seventh leading cause of death in the country and the fifth leading cause of death for those over age 65.

The report warns that without a cure or effective treatments to delay the onset or progression of the Alzheimer's, the prevalence could soar to 7.7 million people with the disease by 2030.

Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.

Share		Follow us on Twitter.