Cost of Alzheimer's Disease

The Toll of Alzheimer's Disease
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The toll of Alzheimer’s disease is devastating:

  • Costs of Alzheimer’s disease exceed $148 billion a year.1
  • Every 72 seconds, someone in America is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.1
  • New cases are diagnosed an estimated:
    • 40 every hour.
    • 980 every day.
    • 360,000 every year.2

People over the age of 85 are at greatest risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. This age group is also the fastest growing population in America. There are very few effective current treatments for Alzheimer’s disease. It poses a real challenge to quality of life and the healthcare system:

  • Treatment costs alone are expected to reach $332 billion by 2025. But the costs don’t end there.1
  • Just think of the impact on those who suffer with this devastating disease as well as their families.

Dementia is a primary symptom of Alzheimer’s disease in those age 65 and older. It causes people to lose memory. It interferes with their daily lives. The impact of Alzheimer’s disease is significant:

  • The symptoms leave sufferers unable to care for themselves or live independently.
  • Loved ones are often forced to become caregivers. This places an emotional and physical burden on them.
  • When the disease progresses, loved ones face difficult decisions about long-term care. The financial burden of live-in nurses or care facilities can be overwhelming.

The Triple Solution—Innovation

Learn why medical advances are essential to meet the needs of patients with chronic diseases, like Alzheimer’s disease. There are very few, if any, effective ways to prevent or treat these diseases.

References:

  1. Alzheimer’s Association. Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures 2007. Chicago: Alzheimer’s Association, 2007. Available at http://www.alz.org/national/documents/
    Report_2007FactsAndFigures.pdf. Accessed April 10, 2007.
  2. Cummings J, Cole G. Alzheimer’s Disease. JAMA 287:2335-2338.