The Alzheimer's Association has released its annual report, Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures, which as usual contains some daunting figures, especially as Baby Boomers age and we hear the latest news story of an unsuccessful drug trial. Here are some of the results:
- 5.8 million Americans have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, which is projected to increase to 14 million by 2050.
- The annual cost of the illness is $290 billion, which is projected to rise to $1 trillion by 2050 (in current dollars). Medicare and Medicaid currently pay $195 billion of this cost
- More than 16 million Americans provide unpaid care to family members with Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia providing an estimated 18.5 billion hours of care valued at $234 billion.
