Dementia Cases to Double

Dementia Cases to Double

Roughly two in five US adults over the age of 55 will develop some form of dementia during their remaining life span, according to a new large-scale analysis published yesterday. The findings imply the number of newly diagnosed cases will double from around 500,000 to about 1 million annually by the year 2060. 

Dementia is an umbrella term for a number of neurodegenerative conditions that cause loss of cognitive abilities, including Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s diseases (see list). Researchers pointed to an aging US population as the primary driver—roughly a quarter of Americans are projected to be 65 or older by 2060—but also cited issues like poor diet and lack of exercise.

Women, who live on average five years longer than men, had a 48% chance of developing symptoms (compared to 35% for men), while Black Americans and people possessing a gene that helps carry lipids and cholesterol in the bloodstream ranged between 45% and 60%. 

Alzheimer’s accounts for about two-thirds of all dementia cases. Learn more about the disease here.