Alzheimer's Disease
November 1, 2010
New treatments needed to avert "national crisis"
In 2011, the first American Baby Boomers will turn age 65. Members of the demographic bulge that transformed American politics and culture are expected to usher in yet another momentous change — a huge increase in the number of Alzheimer's disease patients.
Although Alzheimer's is not a natural condition of aging, the vast majority of patients diagnosed with the disease are ages 65 and over. As the senior population in the United States more than doubles between now and 2050, to about 88.5 million, the number of Alzheimer's patients will more than double as well unless new treatments to prevent, arrest or cure the disease are found.
If no medical progress is made, Alzheimer's disease could affect 13.5 million Americans at a cost of over $1 trillion by 2050, according to an estimate by the Alzheimer's Association. (View the chart Avoiding Future Costs: Need for New Treatments for Alzheimer's Disease)
Hope lies with new treatments. Today, America's biopharmaceutical companies are researching 98 medicines for dementia, mostly Alzheimer's, according to a report released by PhRMA. All 98 are either in clinical trials or under review by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The work indicates a major commitment to Alzheimer's, given that each new medicine costs, on average, more than $1 billion to research and develop. Click here to read about selected medicines in development for Alzheimer's disease.
Even modest progress can drastically change the trajectory of this disease, which some warn is like a
"tsunami" headed our way. For example, a breakthrough that delays the onset of Alzheimer's disease by just five years would mean a significant drop in the number of Alzheimer's patients. Most importantly, such a breakthrough would reduce an untold amount of suffering for patients and their families.
Researchers say we can stop Alzheimer's by 2020, but only if we invest public and private resources to find a cure. With continued dedication, we hope to make a difference for every person at risk of suffering from this terrible, debilitating disease.
Additonal Resources
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