Alzheimer's Disease Will Cost U.S. $277B in 2018

The Alzheimer's Association's 2018 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures report estimates that payments to care for people living with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia will top $250 billion for the second year in a row, according to U.S. News & World Report . The forecast $277 billion total marks a nearly $20 billion year-over-year increase, while costs are expected to exceed $1 trillion by 2050. The association says about 5.7 million Americans currently have Alzheimer's, and approximately 14 million people will be diagnosed with the disorder by 2050. However, the study theorizes that early identification of the disease during the mild cognitive impairment phase could save the U.S. up to $7.9 trillion over the lifetimes of those living with it. "We must continue to attack Alzheimer's through a multidimensional approach that advances research while also improving support for people with the disease and their caregivers," says the Alzheimer's Association's Keith Fargo. He notes although scientific advances lead to fewer deaths from heart disease or cancer, similar breakthroughs in Alzheimer's or dementia research are lacking, and can only come about from national prioritization.