Describe the U.S. and worldwide prevalence rates and the incidence rates of Alzheimer's disease.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The popular press widely but inaccurately reports the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease as 5 to 5.7 million in the United States, which would constitute 12% of the population over age 65 and 50% of those over age 85. The World Health Organization provides a far lower prevalence estimate of 5% of men and 6% of women worldwide. The incidence rate of new cases is less than 1% a year in those ages 60 to 65, or possibly as high as 6.5% in those 85 and older. Indeed, a study based on Canadian health insurance data reported a decline in the number of new cases reported in 2015, noting in addition that "since 60 to 80% of all major dementias have a vascular component, the falling incidence of stroke may have further contributed to the decline in dementia incidence."