Boomers are passing into the age groups in which Alzheimer's shows up most often.
Northern California's
KQED Public Radio explores how as the U.S. population ages, the number of people with Alzheimer's could more than triple over the next four decades. The story says that about 10 percent of the new patients will develop the disease before the age of 65, often in their 40s or 50s.
Imagine the strain on health care and families if three times as many Alzheimer's patients required long-term care.
Last week, the Senate Special Committee on Aging examined how the disease affects more than 5 million patients and almost 10 million caregivers.
The hearing Webcast (requires RealPlayer) is available on the Senate Special Committee on Aging Web site.
The hearing was held in conjunction with the Alzheimer's Association
Public Policy Forum.
What is Alzheimer's?Symptoms, diagnosis, treatments, risk factors, stages and more.
The Alzheimer's Association
tracks stories on the disease, including these ones:
