'Gigantic' impact as new dementia cases expected to top 1 million by 2060

WASHINGTON (7News) — The number of Americans with new diagnoses of dementia is expected to nearly double by 2060, according to a new study published in the journal Nature Medicine.

That means that in just 35 years, the number of new cases of cognitive disease will increase to one million people.

Researchers reviewed data and contacted patients enrolled in a long-term heart study that is following more than 15,000 middle-aged U.S. adults between 45 and 64. They estimated that the lifetime risk of dementia for American adults after age 55 is 42 percent.

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There is a significant increase when those numbers are broken down. Women and Black adults have a 45 to 60 percent chance of developing dementia as they age.

Health and Wellness Reporter Victoria Sanchez spoke to Dr. Anelyssa D'Abreu, a geriatric neurology expert and University of Virginia associate professor of neurology, about the findings.

“What do you think that’s going to do to not just the people getting diagnosed with this, but caregivers, family members, how is that going to affect the country?” Sanchez asked.

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Dr. D'Abreu said the growing number of people with the disease could impact the economy.

“A lot of the care that is provided for patients with dementia are covered by families. It’s someone who’s stopped working or someone who’s paying someone to take care of them. You can also think of the emotional aspect of it also. It’s a very demanding thing, both for patients and for their families, so creating a lot of burden for caregivers and their families. So, the impact, I think, is gigantic actually.”

The researchers suggest that policies that focus on cardiovascular and hearing health could reduce dementia outcomes.