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For the first time, the number of Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has surpassed 7 million, according to the Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report released this week.

An estimated 7.2 million people aged 65 years or older are now living with AD, up from an estimated 6.9 million in the 2024 report. Three quarters of people with AD are aged 75 years or older.

By 2060, the number of people aged 65 years or older with Alzheimer’s dementia is projected to reach 13.8 million, barring the development of breakthroughs to prevent or cure AD.

“With the rising prevalence of Alzheimer’s, it’s more important than ever that researchers, clinicians, health systems, public health officials, and other stakeholders work together to ensure all Americans have access to timely and appropriate Alzheimer’s diagnosis, care, and treatment,” Elizabeth Edgerly, PhD, senior director for Community Programs and Services at the Alzheimer’s Association, said in a news release.

The association projected total annual costs of caring for people living with AD and other dementias (excluding unpaid care) to reach $384 billion in 2025, up from $360 billion last year. Nearly 12 million family members and friends provide 19.2 billion hours of unpaid care, valued at an additional $413 billion.

Preliminary data for 2023 indicate that AD will remain the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Based on an analysis of death certificate data, the number of deaths from AD increased by 142% between 2000 and 2022, while deaths from heart disease — the number-one cause of death — decreased by about 2%.

Among people aged 70 years, 61% of those with AD are expected to die before age 80 compared with 30% of those without AD.

Americans Want to Know

The Association also released an accompanying special report, American Perspectives on Early Detection of Alzheimer’s Disease in the Era of Treatment.

This nationwide survey of more than 1700 US adults aged 45 years or older showed that Americans are eager for early diagnosis and treatment. Among the key findings:

• Overall, 79% would want to know if they had AD before symptoms emerge or affect their lives.
• Moreover, 91% would want to take a blood biomarker test if available, with the goal of starting treatment early; 80% would request a test rather than wait for their doctor to suggest it.
• Americans want medication to slow the progression of AD and would accept some risk; 92% would probably or definitely want to take a medication that could slow the progression of AD. More than half (58%) would accept a moderate to very high level of risk with taking medication to slow the progression of AD.
• If diagnosed with AD, 83% would be willing to participate in a clinical trial for treatment to help slow or cure the disease; 48% cited the ability to participate in a clinical trial as a reason for wanting AD testing.
• Americans are optimistic about new treatments to slow or prevent AD; 81% believe that new treatments to stop the progression of AD will emerge in the next decade. Two thirds (66%) believe that new treatments to prevent the disease will be available soon. Yet 44% worry that insurance will not cover care and treatment.

Americans’ interest in early diagnosis and treatment “highlights how important it is that we keep advancing toward diagnostic testing that is simple to administer and widely available,” Edgerly said.

“We also heard loud and clear that Americans want disease-modifying treatments that can make a real difference after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis,” Edgerly added.