ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE SUPERSEDES DIABETES. AS SIXTH LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN THE UNITED STATES for Alzheimer’s has allowed the disease to pass diabetes. …
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CONTACT: Toni Williams, 202-638-8666, toniwilliams@alzorg
ALZHEIMERS DISEASE SUPERSEDES DIABETES
AS SIXTH LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN THE UNITED STATES
CHICAGO, June 12, 2008 — Alzheimers disease is now the sixth leading
cause of death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention CDC National Center for Health Statistics The CDC
estimates that 72,914 Americans died of Alzheimers disease in 2006 With
an unprecedented historic population shift of 78 million aging baby boomers
in the country and this disease poised to strike 10 million boomers - it is
clear this escalating epidemic must be addressed now
Today, as many as 52 million Americans are living with Alzheimers
disease The Alzheimers Associations 2008 Alzheimers Disease Facts and
Figures report revealed one out of eight baby boomers will develop this
disease that currently has no effective disease-modifying treatments to
halt or delay its progression Experts predict by 2010, there will be
almost a half million new cases of Alzheimers disease each year; and by
2050, there will be almost a million new cases each year
The CDCs
announcement that Alzheimers disease jumped from the seventh to
the sixth leading cause of death should serve as a wake-up call to the
nation, said William Thies, PhD, vice president of Medical and Scientific
Relations at the Alzheimers Association The fact that there are no
effective treatments for Alzheimers has allowed the disease to pass
diabetes It is vitally important that we increase Alzheimers research
funding to slow or stop the progression of this devastating disease
Researchers are closing the gap in developing accurate ways to diagnose and
treat Alzheimers Although there are several promising drugs currently in
Phase III clinical trials, insufficient research funds are committed to
research focused on Alzheimers disease treatment and prevention This
situation is further compounded by the fact that for the past five years
the NIH budget has been essentially flat The personal and economic impact
of Alzheimers is so large that no one entity can solve the problem alone
It will require all levels of government and the private sector working
together to diminish the human and economic cost It must begin with
accelerating research
The CDC also reported that while deaths from
Alzheimers disease were on
the rise, other chronic conditions were on the decline Between 2005 and
2006, the largest decline in age-adjusted death rates occurred for
influenza/pneumonia 128 percent, and also included chronic lower
respiratory diseases 65 percent, stroke 64 percent, heart disease
55 percent, diabetes 53 percent, hypertension 5 percent, chronic
liver disease 33 percent and cancer 16 percent
The Alzheimers Association is the leading voluntary health organization in
Alzheimer care, support and research Our mission is to eliminate
Alzheimers 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 Alzheimers For more information, visit wwwalzorg
