7.10.2004
Alzheimer's - a topic for National and Global Focus
What do we mean? We would love to hear your thoughts on the topic.
The Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease is
hosting a panel discussion followed by Q&A on how the federal
government can better accelerate the development of
Alzheimer's therapies.
More than 4.5 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease today
and this number is expected to reach 6.5 million in 2025 and
13.4 million in 2050. This condition is taking an increasingly
tremendous toll on American families as well as our public
health system. Recent data shows that, if left unchecked,
Medicare costs for patients with Alzheimer's disease and
related dementias will reach $294 billion by 2025 and exceed
$1 trillion by 2050.
The impact of this epidemic - on America's families and
healthcare system - can be significantly reduced by slowing
the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease. Medicare
alone could achieve savings of $126 billion by 2025 and $444
billion by 2050.
U.S. Reps. Ed Markey (D-MA) and Chris Smith (R-NJ), co-chairs
of the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease
Dr. Stephen Potkin, Department of Psychiatry and Human
Behavior, University of California, Irvine
Dr. James Shipley, Praecis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Alan Bennett, Ropes & Gray
