Picture a behemoth so massive it could devour the world’s economy. That’s Alzheimer’s disease for you. It’s a silent giant that’s growing every day, and it’s on track to become a ten trillion dollar problem.

Over the past few decades, we’ve made incredible progress in science and public health. People are living longer, which is fantastic news! But it also presents us with a new challenge: ensuring the health of our ever-growing elderly population. Alzheimer’s is one of the most significant threats to our seniors. As life expectancy increases, the number of people with Alzheimer’s is predicted to skyrocket by more than 150% in the next 30 years. This disease isn’t just deadly; it also makes everyday tasks a struggle and can lead to injuries, confusion, and depression.

The cost of Alzheimer’s isn’t just monetary. It’s about the toll it takes on patients, their families, and our healthcare systems. It’s about lost work productivity, the mental health impact on caregivers, and the indirect medical costs.

Recently the math was calculated and the numbers are staggering. In 2019, the global economic burden of Alzheimer’s was around $2 trillion. By 2050, it could soar to $10 trillion, or even $13.5 trillion. To put that in perspective, the world’s GDP is projected to be $228 trillion in 2050.

This isn’t just a problem for wealthy countries. Low- and middle-income countries will feel the squeeze too, and they’re less equipped to handle it. In fact, the number of people with Alzheimer’s in Northern Africa, the Middle East, and Eastern Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to grow by 250% by 2050. The bottom line? We need to invest heavily in Alzheimer’s research, testing, treatments, and public-health outreach.

It’s not just a humanitarian issue; it’s smart economic policy.

Currently, Alzheimer’s accounts for about 60 to 80% of dementia cases, making it a major source of disability for those aged 55 and older. In 2019, between 34 million and 46 million people worldwide had Alzheimer’s. By 2050, that number could rise to about 107 million.

Despite years of research, we still don’t have a cure for Alzheimer’s. We have some models of care, but they’re not widely used. Many people with Alzheimer’s face tough choices about receiving care at home or in a nursing home. The cost of Alzheimer’s includes medical and long-term care expenses, as well as costs to insurance companies and government healthcare systems. In 2019, we spent an estimated $184 billion on direct healthcare costs for Alzheimer’s patients. By 2050, that could reach $1.1 trillion per year.

A 2018 study estimated the combined direct and indirect global costs of Alzheimer’s to be between $575 billion and $766 billion in 2015. By 2050, that could increase to about $6.4 trillion. But these estimates don’t capture everything. They often leave out the value of unpaid activities that enrich lives, like caring for grandchildren and volunteering in the community.

Recent studies have highlighted the deep connection between wealth and health. Populations that are healthier tend to have more dynamic and robust economies than those that are less healthy. As the impact of Alzheimer’s disease rapidly intensifies in the coming decades, it could become a significant roadblock to human progress.

In 2020, the U.N. General Assembly declared this decade as the Decade of Healthy Aging. They called upon governments, civil society organizations, the private sector, academic experts, and other stakeholders to unite in improving the lives of older adults. The need for action is clear and immediate. The combination of a rapidly aging global population and the absence of treatments for Alzheimer’s is a problem now, and it’s only set to escalate. It’s time for us to roll up our sleeves and get to work. We owe it to our future selves to tackle this head-on.

In essence, Alzheimer’s is a colossal challenge. But with the right investments and collective effort, we can combat this. Let’s gear up and get to work, for the sake of our future selves and the generations to come.

References:

Bloom, D. E., Chen, S., & Nandi, A. (2024, May 22). The New Age of Alzheimer’s. Scientific American. Retrieved from Scientific American.