A new report from the Alzheimer’s Association shows 13 million Americans will be diagnosed with the disease by 2050 which is double the current number living with the disease. LSU Pennington Biomedical Research Center Professor, Dr. Owen Carmichael says there are several factors associated with those numbers.
“Well there was actually a positive development people are surviving cardiovascular events and they’re living to an old enough age to get Alzheimer’s disease,” said Carmichael.
There are approximately 7 million people currently suffering from Alzheimer’s in the country but that number is expected to double by 2050. Carmichael says a new drug treatment could possibly slow those numbers.
“The Food and Drug Administration has approved drugs that go right to what we think is the core cause of Alzheimer’s disease in the first place,” said Carmichael.
The national cost for caring for people with dementia-related problems rose to $345 billion in 2023, which is up $24 billion from 2022. Carmichael says developments in new treatments should accelerate over the next few years but people who are able to identify cognitive problems should visit their doctor.
“There’s absolutely ways that your primary care provider can help you find the resources you need,” said Carmichael.
People who are interested in new treatments and approaches for preventing or treating Alzheimer’s should visit www.pbrc.edu.
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