The number of Americans with Alzheimer's and related dementias is expected to double by 2060

The number of people living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia will double by 2060, according to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Alzheimer's disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and the fifth leading cause in people aged 65 and over. It is an irreversible and progressive brain disorder that slowly deprives people of memory and possibly the ability to perform the simplest tasks. There is no cure.

In 2014, 5 million people in the United States had Alzheimer's disease and dementia – about 1.6% of the American population. This number is expected to reach 13.9 million, or nearly 3.3% of the population in 2060.

"This study shows that as the US population grows, the number of people with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias will increase, particularly among minority populations," said Robert R Redfield, director of the CDC. families are facing memory loss, navigating the health care system and planning their care in the future. "

The article, published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association, is the first to analyze the projections of Alzheimer's disease by race and age. Ethnicity. The researchers believe that Hispanic Americans will experience the largest increase due to projected population growth in the coming decades.

Currently, among adults aged 65 and over, African-Americans have the highest prevalence of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, accounting for 13.8%. This is followed by Hispanics, at 12.2%; Non-Hispanic whites, at 10.3%; American Indians and Alaskan Indians, at 9.1%; and Asia and the Pacific Islands, with 8.4%.

Dementia is more common among women (12.2%) than men (8.6%). The study indicates that as many as 3.2 women in the United States are currently living with dementia, compared with nearly 1.8 million in the United States. men. These figures are expected to reach 8.5 million women and nearly 5.4 million men by 2060.

By 2060, CDC researchers predict that there will be more than 7 million non-Hispanic whites, 3.2 million Hispanics, and 2.2 million African-Americans with the disease. Alzheimer's and related dementias in the United States. die of other chronic diseases and survive until adulthood when the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and other dementias increases.

Estimates are based on US Census Bureau population projections and percentages of Medicare beneficiaries age 65 and over with Alzheimer Disease and related dementias from the Medicare Service Centers and Medicaid.

The document also highlights the need to provide support to caregivers with loved ones living with dementia. The researchers note that an early diagnosis can help caregivers plan ahead for life changes related to the care of a friend or family member with the disease.

"It's important for people who think that their daily lives are impacted by memory loss to discuss these concerns with a health care provider, "said Kevin Matthews, Ph.D., health geographer and senior author of the study." Early assessment and diagnosis are essential to plan their health care plans. " health care needs and supports as the disease progresses. "