Prevalence and Incidence of Alzheimer's Disease

Prevalance of Alzheimer's Disease:

more than 4 million Americans (CDC); estimated 4 million people in the U.S (NHWIC)

Prevalance Rate:

approx 1 in 68 or 1.47% or 4 million people in USA [about data]

Prevalence/Incidence of Alzheimer's Disease: Online Medical Books

16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE! Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration, for more information about the prevalence and/or incidence of Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease: Causes and incidence
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

The cause of Alzheimer’s disease is unknown; however, several factors are thought to be implicated in this disease. These include neurochemical factors, such as deficiencies in the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, somatostatin, substance P, and norepinephrine; environmental factors; and genetic immunologic factors. Genetic studies show that an autosomal dominant form of Alzheimer’s disease is associated with early onset and early death, accounting for about 100,000 deaths a year. A family history of Alzheimer’s disease and the presence of Down syndrome are two established risk factors.Alzheimer’s disease isn’t exclusive to the elder population; its onset begins in middle age in 1% to 10% of cases

The brain tissue of patients with Alzhei-mer’s disease has three hallmark features: neurofibrillary tangles, neuritic plaques, and granulovascular degeneration. Examination of the brain after death also finds that it’s atrophic, commonly weighing less than 1,000 g, compared with a normal brain weight of about 1,380 g.

About 360,000new cases of Alzheimer’s are diagnosed each year.

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Prevelance of Alzheimer's Disease discussion:

Clinical Trials Alzheimer''s Disease and Related Disorders: NIMH (Excerpt)

About 3 percent of men and women ages 65 to 74 have AD, and nearly half of those age 85 and older may have the disease. It is important to note, however, that AD is not a normal part of aging. (Source: excerpt from Clinical Trials Alzheimer''s Disease and Related Disorders: NIMH)

NIA's Progress Report on Alzheimer's Disease, 1998: NIA (Excerpt)

AD is the most common cause of dementia among people age 65 and older. AD affects as many as 4 million Americans; slightly more than half of these people receive care at home, while the others are in many different health care institutions. Before long, ongoing population studies will give estimates of the number of people at different stages of the disease.

The prevalence of AD doubles every 5 years beyond age 65. Prevalence is the number of people in a population with a disease at a given time. In fact, some studies indicate that nearly half of all people age 85 and older have symptoms of AD. (Source: excerpt from NIA's Progress Report on Alzheimer's Disease, 1998: NIA)

Prevelance statistics for Alzheimer's Disease:

The following statistics relate to the prevalence of Alzheimer's Disease:

• 4.5 million cases in America (Alzheimer’s Association, 2004)
• Prevalence of Alzheimer's expected to increase to 11.3-16 million cases in America by 2050 (Alzheimer’s Association, 2004)
• 4 million cases of Alzheimer's in the US (ADEAR)
• 19 million people had a family member with Alzheimer's in the US (ADEAR)
• 1 in 10 over 65 years in the US have Alzheimer's (ADEAR)
• Nearly 50% of those over 85 years in the US have Alzheimer's (ADEAR)

About prevalence and incidence statistics:

The term 'prevalence' of Alzheimer's Disease usually refers to the estimated population of people who are managing Alzheimer's Disease at any given time. The term 'incidence' of Alzheimer's Disease refers to the annual diagnosis rate, or the number of new cases of Alzheimer's Disease diagnosed each year. Hence, these two statistics types can differ: a short-lived disease like flu can have high annual incidence but low prevalence, but a life-long disease like diabetes has a low annual incidence but high prevalence. For more information see about prevalence and incidence statistics.