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.
