In the current issue of Alzheimer's & Dementia, the Alzheimer's Association released their report on 2008 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures. According to the report, approximately 1 in 8, or 10 million, baby boomers in the United States will develop Alzheimer's disease in their lifetime. The report also estimated that as many as 5.2 million people in the United States are currently living with Alzheimer's, including up to a quarter of a million people under the age of 65.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, or cognitive deterioration and memory loss, in the United States. It is the fifth leading cause of death for Americans over the age of 65, and it represents a significant source of disability, as well as healthcare costs of nearly 150 billion dollars each year. Alzheimer's disease can be devastating both to the individual and to his/her caregivers.

The Alzheimer's Association estimates by that by 2010, over 450,000 new cases of Alzheimer's will be diagnosed in the United States each year. And, by 2050, that number could increase to over 950,000. While this raises concerns about the availability of healthcare resources to treat Alzheimer's disease, perhaps the development of more effective medications and the more active and better-educated lifestyles of today's baby boomers will slow down the effects of the disease.