Cecily O'Connor
RedwoodAge.com

The number of older adults with Alzheimer's disease is rising by more than 1.5 million a year, highlighting the need for greater action as more boomers join the ranks of a graying US population.  

About 35 million people worldwide are living with Alzheimer's and dementia, according to a new report from Alzheimer's Disease International. That number - up 10 percent from 2005 - will nearly double every 20 years, reaching an estimated 65.7 million people in 2030 and 115.4 million by 2050.

 Much of the growth is attributable to increases in the numbers of people with dementia in low and middle-income areas, including Latin America and Africa according to the report. 

Alzheimer's disease is a fatal disorder that is the most common cause of dementia, a general term for memory loss that's serious enough to disrupt daily life.

Most individuals with the disease are 65 or older - an age the oldest boomers will hit in two years. The likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s doubles about every five years after age 65, according to the Alzheimer's Association. After age 85, the risk reaches nearly 50 percent.  

With 78 million US baby boomers reaching the age of greatest risk, Alzheimer's groups are urging greater awareness and response to relieve the expected burdens  upon individuals, families, health care infrastructures and the worldwide economy. Policymakers also are getting involved, with several measures on the table aimed at research and early detection. 

The Alzheimer's Priority
As awareness builds, boomers caring for elderly parents with Alzheimer's often wonder, too, if they'll be vulnerable. Many have taken up various cognitive games and activities to increase mental stimulation - and potentially forestall the disease. 

"We must make the fight against Alzheimer's a priority here in the United States and worldwide," said Harry Johns, president and chief executive officer of the Alzheimer's Association. "We must take action against Alzheimer's now."

Worldwide, the economic cost of dementia has been estimated as $315 billion annually. The annual costs per person with dementia have been estimated at $1,521 in a low-income country, rising to $4,588 in middle-income countries, and $17,964 in high-income countries. 

The financial repercussions are among many reasons policymakers are involved in the pursuit of better diagnosis, prevention and treatment.

One measure in the US, the Alzheimer's Breakthrough Act, seeks to increase funding for Alzheimer’s at the National Institutes of Health to $2 billion. The legislation also creates a National Summit on Alzheimer's, assembling researchers, policymakers and public health officials together to discuss the latest research. The bill is still in committee. 

Separately, another measure known as "America's Healthy Future Act of 2009" contains a provision for cognitive impairment screening for Medicare beneficiaries. 

"The inclusion of cognitive screenings in Medicare wellness visits will help initiate long overdue and vital discussions about brain health between consumers and healthcare professionals," said Eric Hall, president of the Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA). 

The memory screen proposal is scheduled for markup by the Senate Finance Committee this week. Meanwhile, AFA is preparing for its National Memory Screening Day on November 17 where local organizations offer free, confidential memory screenings and education about brain health.