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What Age Group Does Alzheimer's Affect?

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disease that gradually destroys brain cells. Most individuals with Alzheimer's first show signs of the disease after age 60. The disease starts in the part of the brain that holds short-term memory, and then it slowly spreads to other areas of the brain. As the disease advances, sufferers lose the ability to carry out daily activities and care for themselves.

  1. Early-Onset Alzheimer's

    • When an individual is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease before age 65, it is known as early-onset Alzheimer's. In 2009, the Alzheimer's Association reported that approximately 500,000 people in the United States had early-onset Alzheimer's or other dementia-causing conditions. Early-onset Alzheimer's can be diagnosed in people as young as 30.

    Late-Onset Alzheimer's

    • Most cases of Alzheimer's disease develop after the age of 65 and are known as late-onset Alzheimer's. According to the Alzheimer's Association, 13 percent of individuals age 65 and older have Alzheimer's disease. As senior citizens age, the risk of developing Alzheimer's increases. After age 65, the odds of a person having Alzheimer's double approximately every five years. The odds increase to about 50 percent when an individual reaches the age of 85.

    Significance

    • Advancing age is the greatest risk factor for developing Alzheimer's disease. As the number of senior citizens increase, the number of individuals with Alzheimer's will continue to escalate. When Alzheimer's strikes, families are often forced to face loss of income and unexpected health care costs. In the United States, treatment and care for Alzheimer's makes health care costs triple for individuals over the age of 65. As of 2009, it is estimated that the total cost of Alzheimer's and other dementias amount to over $148 billion a year in the United States alone.

    Time Frame

    • Alzheimer's disease advances slowly. The time frame from mild memory problems and cognitive impairment to severe brain damage and death varies. For those who are diagnosed at an older age or who have other health problems, the disease may only last three to four years. However, a younger person in better physical health may suffer with the disease for 10 years or longer.

    Considerations

    • Because of medical and technological advances, people are living longer. With longer life spans, the number of Alzheimer's cases will continue to grow. It is estimated that the number of people with Alzheimer's will double and reach 7.7 million by 2030. Until a cure or way to prevent Alzheimer's is found, the cost of health care for Alzheimer's patients will continue to rise.

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