The Ronald and Nancy Reagan Research Institute of the Alzheimer’s Association

Abstract

Current efforts toward developing treatments to delay the symptoms of AD will not be adequate to overcome the demographic forces which are increasing the total number of affected individuals. The prevalence of AD increases nearly exponentially with age, that is, the percentage of the population affected doubles every decade beyond age 65. By delaying the onset of disabling symptoms for all age groups by five to ten years, it would be possible to reduce the number of people affected by half and cut the cost of care significantly.