Worldwide Alzheimer's cases to quadruple by 2050

The latest worldwide estimate of Alzheimer's disease prevalence shows that 26.6 million people were living with the disease in 2006, and researchers forecast that the number will quadruple by 2050.

The results were reported at the Second Alzheimer's Association International Conference on Prevention of Dementia in Washington, D.C. held from June 9-12.

Researchers from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health predict that global prevalence of Alzheimer's will quadruple by 2050 to more than 100 million, at which time 1 in 85 people worldwide will be living with the disease.

More than 40 percent of those cases will be in late stage Alzheimer's, requiring a high level of attention equivalent to nursing home care.

Researchers created a multi-state mathematical computer model using United Nations' worldwide population forecasts and data from epidemiological studies on the incidence and mortality of Alzheimer's.

The biggest increase is projected for densely populated Asia, home of almost half of today's Alzheimer's cases, 12.6 million. By 2050, Asia will have 62.8 million of the world's 106 million Alzheimer's patients, the study projects.

"The number of people affected by Alzheimer's disease is growing at an alarming rate, and the increasing financial and personal costs will have a devastating effect on the world's economies, healthcare systems and families," said William Thies, vice president of Medical and Scientific Relations with the Alzheimer's Association.

However there is hope. There are several drugs in Phase III clinical trials for Alzheimer's that show great promise to slow or stop the progression of the disease. This, combined with advancements in diagnostic tools, has the potential to change the landscape of Alzheimer's.

"But we need more funding for research to make this happen," Thies said at the conference.

Source: Xinhua