The Alzheimer's Association® estimates that 10 million baby boomers will develop Alzheimer's disease in the United States, according to their new report released today, the 2008 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures.

The new report says the disease is poised to strike one out of eight baby boomers. According to the Alzheimer's Association, now is the time to address this looming epidemic that currently has no effective disease-modifying treatments that halt or delay the progression of the disease.

"The 2008 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures shows the tremendous impact this disease is having in North Carolina and nationwide. With 150,000 people with Alzheimer's disease living in North Carolina today and with the prevalence expected to grow to 170,000 by 2010, now is the time to develop an effective blueprint to deal with this disease," said Jackie Rivers, the executive director of the Alzheimer's Association's- Western Carolina Chapter. 

Today, as many as 5.2 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease, the seventh leading cause of death in the country and the fifth leading cause of death for those over age 65. The Association's report offers numerous statistics that convey the burden Alzheimer's imposes on individuals, families, government, business, and the nation's health and long term care systems. For example,

• Every 71 seconds, someone in America develops Alzheimer's disease; by mid-century someone will develop Alzheimer's every 33 seconds.
• By 2010, there will be almost a half million new cases of Alzheimer's disease a year; and by 2050, there will be almost a million new cases each year.
• Women are nearly twice as likely as men to develop Alzheimer's disease (17 percent vs. 9 percent). One in six women and one in ten men age 55 and older can expect to develop Alzheimer's disease in their remaining lifetime. Although it may appear that being female is a risk factor, more women will develop Alzheimer's because on average, women live longer than men, thereby having more time to develop the disease.

The report highlights that last year, in North Carolina alone there were 311,578 caregivers, providing 286,953,971 hours of unpaid care for a loved one with Alzheimer's or another dementia valued at $2,845,533,016 dollars. In 2007, there were nearly 10 million Americans age 18 and over providing 8.4 billion hours of unpaid care to people with Alzheimer's disease valued at $89 billion. An additional quarter of a million Alzheimer caregivers were children age 8 to 18.

With seventy percent of people with Alzheimer's and other dementias living at home where friends and family take care of them, the disease not only touches the individual but entire families.

According to the latest statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, from 2000-2005 death rates have declined for most major diseases -- heart disease (-8.6 percent), breast cancer (-.8 percent), prostate cancer (-4.9 percent) and stroke (-14.4 percent), while Alzheimer's disease deaths continue to trend upward, increasing 45 percent during that period.

"It is more important than ever that research funding be increased to find effective treatments that delay the progression of the disease. The Alzheimer's Association continues to be vigilant in offering support to individuals living with the disease as well as the 311,578 Alzheimer caregivers in this state who are grappling with the tremendous challenges an Alzheimer's diagnosis brings to one's doorstep," said Rivers.  

The Alzheimer's Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care, support and research.  Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.  Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's.  For more information, visit www.alz.org.

About the Alzheimer's Association

The Alzheimer's Association serves more than 77,000 families in 49 counties in the Western Carolina area. To learn more about Alzheimer's disease and advocacy please consider attending this years Spring Education Conference on April 17, 2008 at the Charlotte Convention Center.