An estimated 6.7 million Americans living with alzheimer’s today it is about one in nine people aged 65 and over.
That number is expected to nearly double over the next two decades to reach nearly 13 million by 2050, according to a new report released by the Alzheimer’s Association on Wednesday.
Despite promising advances in treating patients in the early stages, Alzheimer’s fact-and-figures report has revealed some key problems, including a lack of communication with physicians and missed opportunities for early diagnosis and intervention.
Population growth fuels surge in Alzheimer’s
“The population aged 65 years and over is expected to grow from 58 million in 2021 to 88 million in 2050,” said Nicole Purcell, MD, chief neurologist and senior director of clinical practice for the Alzheimer’s Association in the United States. Chicago, Illinoissaid Fox News Digital in an interview.
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Meanwhile, the baby boomer generation has begun to reach the age of 65 and older, putting them at the highest risk of Alzheimer’s disease, the report notes.
An estimated 6.7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease today—about one in nine people aged 65 and over. (iStock)
“Thanks to advances in medical technology and healthier lifestyles, people are living longer than ever before,” said Gary Small, MD, Chair of Psychiatry, Hackensack University Medical Center. in New Jerseytold Fox News Digital in an email.
“Because age is the biggest risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, as our population ages, so does the number of people suffering from this disease.”
Staff shortages and the widening gap in care
The report notes that neurologists and geriatricians are considered the best medical professionals to recommend treatments for people with Alzheimer’s, and geriatricians are generally the best equipped to provide day-to-day care.
(Geriatricians are primary care physicians who specialize in treatment of elderly patientsand neurologists specialize in the treatment of diseases of the nervous system, including Alzheimer’s disease.)
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However, a growing shortage of medical professionals is creating what many see as an insurmountable problem.
“We already have a shortage of healthcare workers, and it will only increase as the population ages, and we are extending people’s lives,” said Dr. Purcell of Chicago.
“As our population ages, so does the number of people suffering from this disease.”
Nearly three times the number of current geriatricians will be needed by 2050 to provide effective care to the nearly 13 million older people expected to have Alzheimer’s disease.
“Ageism, limited reimbursement and other factors have contributed to a shortage of workforce for geriatric therapists and psychiatrists who specialize in the evaluation and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease,” said Dr. Small.
“Without major shifts in public policy to stimulate the training of geriatric specialists, the main care providers for these patients will continue to be primary care physicians.”
There are currently seven FDA-approved drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, five of which target symptoms only. (iStock)
Dr. Stanley Appel, co-director of the Houston Methodist Neurological Institute Coya Therapeutics. in Houston, Texashas devoted more than 40 years to the study of all types of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease.
While he acknowledges that staffing shortages are a problem, he said efforts should be directed towards developing effective and meaningful patient treatments, not just training more geriatricians.
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“The healthcare system in no country, including one as advanced as the United States, can’t cope with such a high rate of disease progression,” Dr. Appel said in an interview with Fox News Digital.
“I believe that we need to fight the disease, and not just train more nurses and doctors to fight expanding the population of seriously ill patients.”
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Dr. Purcell noted that there is very active research into Alzheimer’s disease all over the world.
The report says there are currently seven FDA-approved drugs to treat Alzheimer’s disease, five of which target symptoms only.
Only two of them, aducanumab and lecanemab, work to treat the actual changes in the brain and biology that cause the disease. Additional procedures are under research.
Nearly three times the number of current geriatricians will be needed to provide effective care to the nearly 13 million older people expected to have Alzheimer’s by 2050. (iStock)
While these developments offer some hope for people living with Alzheimer’s and their families, Dr. Purcell said it’s important to know that drugs are only meant to be used in the early stages of the disease.
“This means that it is important for people experiencing symptoms to contact their primary care physician, discuss these issues and get a diagnosis,” she added.
Many do not seek help
Only four in 10 people said they would see a doctor at the first sign of memory loss or other cognitive problems, according to a new report.
“Many older people believe their age-related forgetfulness is normal, but early detection and intervention leads to better outcomes.”
“There’s a huge amount of stigma and fear about being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease,” Dr. Small told Fox News Digital.
“Early symptoms are mild and gradual and are often perceived as just normal aging. Many older adults believe their age-related forgetfulness is normal, but early recognition and intervention lead to better outcomes. Informing people about early symptoms is important for motivation. them to get help.”
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According to Dr. Purcell, one of the report’s most important findings is that people who have difficulty with memory or cognition do not discuss their problems with their healthcare providers.
In most cases, she says, doctors usually wait for the person or loved one to voice their concerns during a visit to the hospital. This highlights the need for improved communication on both sides.
High cost for the family
The report says the total cost of caring for people living with Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia in the US is expected to reach $345 billion this year, up $24 billion from a year ago.
The cost of treating Alzheimer’s disease includes both direct medical care for the patient and family care costs. (iStock)
“The cost of medical care includes both direct medical care to the patient and indirect costs of family care, such as absenteeism from work and loss of income for a patient who can no longer hold work due to illness,” the report said. Doctor Small.
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Ultimately, as Dr. Appel noted, Alzheimer’s is a family disease—not just emotionally, but also financially.
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“We need to better inform our population about risk factors and what we can do symptomatically,” he said.
“But I’m optimistic that we have therapies to help address this major unmet need.”
