The latest projections from a study in the journal Neurology point to epidemic levels of Americans afflicted with Alzheimer's disease in the next few decades.

The report, published this week, finds that the number of people with Alzheimer's disease is expected to triple in the next 40 years. In 2050, 13.8 million Americans will be affected with the brain disease, up from 4.7 million in 2010, the last time projections were made.

"Our study draws attention to an urgent need for more research, treatments and preventive strategies to reduce this epidemic," said co-author Jennifer Weuve, assistant professor of medicine at the Rush Institute for Healthy Aging at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, in a statement.
For the study, Weuve and her fellow researchers analyzed information from 10,802 African-American and Caucasian residents of Chicago, ages 65 and older, between 1993 and 2011. Participants were interviewed and assessed for dementia every three years. The data were combined with U.S. death rates, education and current and future population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, according to the report.

"This increase is due to an aging baby boom generation. It will place a huge burden on society, disabling more people who develop the disease, challenging their caregivers, and straining medical and social safety nets," said Weuve.

More Industry Headlines