health
Alzheimer's cases expected to soar as boomers age
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Feb. 11, 2013
The number of people with Alzheimer's disease could triple in the next 40 years due largely to the baby boom generation, said a study published online Feb. 6 in Neurology.
An estimated 4.7 million U.S. adults 65 and older had Alzheimer's in 2010, the study said. The figure is projected to swell to 13.8 million by 2050. Seven million Americans with Alzheimer's in 2050 will be 85 or older.
The prevalence of the progressive neurological disorder could be reduced if an intervention is identified that delays the onset of the disease, the study said (link).
Researchers examined data on 10,802 Chicago residents 65 and older who participated in the Chicago Health and Aging Project between 1993 and 2011. Participants were interviewed and assessed for dementia every three years. Age, race and level of education were factored into the research. The data were combined with U.S. Census Bureau information on the nation's death rates, levels of education attainment and population estimates.
