Alzheimer's disease rates expected to triple

Alzheimer's disease rates expected to triple

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WASHINGTON -

The number of people with Alzheimer's disease is expected to triple in the next forty years.

Rush University researches say in there were nearly five million people living with Alzheimer's disease in 2010.

They project that number to grow to fourteen million by 2050.

Researchers also estimate half of those living with the disease will be over eighty-five years old.

The team hopes their projections will compel health care providers to begin preparing for the increase.

Dr. Ronan Factora is a geriatrician at Cleveland Clinic. He did not take part in the study, however, he says the baby boomer influx will be a large contributor to the increase.

"So, this really reflects how the demographics in the United States is moving along. These are the baby boomers. They're getting older and they're going to have these conditions, including Alzheimer's disease. And it's going to be a big burden to them, to their spouses, to their families, to society overall," said Factora.

"Continue to see your doctor on a regular basis. If you have high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, make sure that those are well controlled. Keep yourself physically active. Do things to keep your mind active as well. Spend some time being by yourself, if you want to spend some alone time, that's fine, but don't make that dominate your life," he continued.

Findings appear in the journal of The American Academy Of Neurology.

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