So many of us have watched a loved one suffer through the early onset of Alzheimer’s disease. While the victim’s physical being might be relatively solid, this disease sadly and progressively takes a victim’s mental abilities away to the point where they might not even recognize family members or friends any longer.
According to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, it is estimated that as many as 5.1 million Americans may have Alzheimer’s disease. The incidents of the disease is rising in line with the aging population.
Although Alzheimer’s disease is not a normal part of aging, the risk of developing the illness rises with advanced age. Current research from the National Institute on Aging indicates that the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease doubles every five years beyond age 65.
As our population ages, the disease impacts a greater percentage of Americans. The number of people age 65 and older will more than double between 2010 and 2050 to 88.5 million or 20 percent of the population; likewise, those 85 and older will rise three-fold, to 19 million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
It is estimated that about a half million Americans younger than age 65 have some form of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. (This is referred to as young onset or early onset.) While a cure has not been found, there has been some optimistic news on this front recently. Human trials began in Melbourne, Australia, recently for a new drug that may halt the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and to reverse memory loss.
For more information, visit CogRx and read even more here.
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