Aging and the Public Health Effects of Dementia

Abstract
Dementia, and Alzheimer's disease in particular, is one of the principal causes of disability and decreased quality of life among the elderly and a leading obstacle to successful aging.1,2 In the next 50 years, the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease in the United States is projected nearly to quadruple — which means that 1 in every 45 Americans will be afflicted with the disease.3 This dramatic increase in prevalence will result primarily from the aging of the population. The percentage of Americans older than 75 years of age is predicted to increase from approximately 5.9 percent in 2000 to 11.4 . . .