The Association’s report details the
escalation of Alzheimer’s disease which now
is the seventh leading cause of death in the
country and the fifth leading cause of death
for those over age 65.
It also offers numerous statistics that
convey the burden that Alzheimer’s imposes
on individuals, families, state and federal
governments, businesses, and the nation’s
health care system. For example:
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,
which is more than the population of 140 of
the 236 United Nations countries.
By mid-century, the number of people with
Alzheimer’s is expected to grow to as many
as 16 million, more than the current total
population of New York City, Los Angeles,
Chicago and Houston combined.
As the prevalence impact of Alzheimer’s
grows, so does the cost to the nation. The
direct and indirect costs of Alzheimer’s and
other dementias amount to more than $148
billion annually, which is more than the
annual sales of any retailer in the world
excluding Wal-Mart.
“Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures
clearly shows the tremendous impact this
disease is having on the nation; and with
the projected growth of the disease, the
collective impact on individuals, families,
Medicare, Medicaid, and businesses will be
even greater,” says Harry Johns, President
and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association.
“However there is hope. There are currently
nine drugs in Phase III clinical trials for
Alzheimer’s several of which show great
promise to slow or stop the progression of
the disease. This, combined with
advancements in diagnostic tools, has the
potential to change the landscape of
Alzheimer’s.”
According to the latest statistics from the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
from 2000-2004 death rates have declined for
most major diseases -- heart disease (-8
percent), breast cancer (-2.6 percent),
prostate cancer (-6.3 percent) and stroke
(-10.4 percent), while Alzheimer’s disease
deaths continue to trend upward, increasing
33 percent during that period.
“We must make the fight against Alzheimer’s
a national priority before it’s too late.
The absence of effective disease modifying
drugs, coupled with an aging population,
makes Alzheimer’s the health care crisis of
the 21st century,” Johns said.
Medicare currently spends nearly three times
as much for people with Alzheimer’s and
other dementias than for the average
Medicare beneficiary.
Medicare costs are projected to double from
$91 billion in 2005 to more than $189
billion by 2015, more than the current gross
national product of 86 percent of the
world’s countries. In 2005, state and
federal Medicaid spending for nursing home
and home care for people with Alzheimer’s
and other dementias was estimated at $21
billion; that number is projected to
increase to $27 billion by 2015.
The new report also highlights the impact
that Alzheimer’s has on states with more
than 6 in 10 (62%) having double digit
growth in prevalence by the end of the
decade. In addition, Alaska (+47%), Colorado
(+47%), Utah (+45%), Wyoming (+43%), Nevada
(+38%), Idaho (+37%), Oregon (+33%), and
Washington (+33%) will experience increases
ranging from one-third to one-half.
The states with the largest numbers of
deaths due to Alzheimer’s disease in 2003
were (1) California, (2) Florida, (3) Texas,
(4) Pennsylvania, and (5) Ohio.
The Alzheimer’s Association is the first and
largest voluntary health organization
dedicated to finding prevention methods,
treatments and an eventual cure for
Alzheimer’s. For more than 25 years, the
Association has provided reliable
information and care consultation; created
services for families; increased funding for
dementia research; and influenced public
policy changes.
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five million in the United States…