# Presentation: 816365

## Alliance for Aging ResearchWhite House Conference on Aging Solutions Forum

- September 22, 2005

## Demographics of Alzheimer’s

**4.5 million people currently have AD**
**(1 in 10 over age 65; 50% over age 85)**
**By 2050, the number with AD could range from 11.3 – 16 million**

## Percent of People 65 + with Probable Alzheimer’s Disease

- _Source_: Hebert, L.E., et al.  *Alzheimer’s Disease in the U.S. Population: Prevalence Estimates Using the 2000 Census*.  Arch. Neurol., Vol. 60, Aug. 2003, 1119-1122.

## Rapid Growth of Alzheimer’s Disease(in millions)

**By 2050, the number of people with Alzheimer’s will range from 11.3 - 16 million.**

## Burden:  Current Costs of Alzheimer’s Disease

**AMERICAN BUSINESSES = $61 billion for benefits and lost productivity**
**MEDICARE = $91 billion; increasing to $189 billion by 2015 **
**MEDICAID = $21 billion for nursing home care; increasing to $27 billion by 2015**
**CAREGIVING = $257 billion**

## Burden: Impact of Caregiving

**More than 7 out of 10 people with Alzheimer’s disease live at home**
**71% of Alzheimer caregivers have been caring for more than one year: 32% for 5+ years**
**Alzheimer caregivers spend an average of $218/month out-of-pocket on medications, food and other expenses for loved ones**
**66% of Alzheimer caregivers have missed work because of caregiving duties**

## Medicare Spending on Alzheimer’s Disease(in billions)

- Source: “Saving Lives, Saving Money: Dividends for Americans Investing in Alzheimer’s Research”, The Lewin Group & the Alzheimer’s Association, June 2004.

## Medicaid Spending on Alzheimer’s Disease(in billions)

- Source: “Saving Lives, Saving Money: Dividends for Americans Investing in Alzheimer’s Research”, The Lewin Group & the Alzheimer’s Association, June 2004.

## Benefits of a Breakthrough

**If a breakthrough delays onset or slows progression of Alzheimer’s disease by 2010, in 2015:**
**Savings to Medicaid = **_**$10 billion**_
**Savings to Medicare = **_**$51 billion**_
**Reduced cases of AD = up to **_**1.6 million**_

- Source**:  **“Saving Lives, Saving Money:  Dividends for Americans Investing in Alzheimer’s Research”, The Lewin Group &  the Alzheimer’s Association, June 2004.

## Research: NIH Federal Funding

- (in billions of dollars)

- Source: Based on data from the NIH Budget Authority

**** 1998-2003 Campaign to double NIH funding***

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## Barriers to Progress

**Implications of minimal increases in NIH funding for aging-related research:**
**Limited number of new grants**
**Cuts in ongoing grants**
**Limited ability to recruit young researchers**
**Lack of funding for clinical trials of promising new treatments**
**Increased competition for scare resources among research disciplines**

## Solution

**Expand the federal commitment to aging-related research by investing in:**
_**Clinical trials**_** – bring new treatments for common age-related illnesses to patients**
_**Basic biomedical research**_** – enhance understanding of the biology of aging**
_**Social & behavioral studies**_** – improve quality of care**
_**Public/private partnerships**_** – NIA Imaging Initiative**
_**Multidisciplinary approach**_** – NIA Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers**