It is understandable that now Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia have formally become the leading cause of death in Britain. In 2021, they represented the highest percent fatality. This concerning trend is mirrored in the United States. There, Alzheimer’s disease is the third leading cause of death. As our population ages, estimates predict the number of U.S. adults developing dementia each year will likely double within the next four decades. Addressing this troubling increase begs a host of critical questions regarding prevention, treatment, and care for those impacted.
In fact, a new study from Nature Medicine is the latest reminder of the increasing risk posed by dementia. A new analysis of 15,000 boomers found some eye-popping results. The lifetime risk of developing dementia after the age of 55 is around 42%. As a result, 42% of Americans age 55 and older are expected to receive a dementia diagnosis later in life. These stats highlight the urgent need for people to know about and take action on this growing public health crisis.
Even with these discouraging numbers, there is hope on the horizon when it comes to treatments for Alzheimer’s disease. In just the last 2 years, these therapies have made their way into the pharmaceutical landscape—donanemab and lecanemab or help sequentially. At least in clinical trials, those two treatments have been proven to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. This is a huge step toward finally making this potentially devastating condition fully manageable. Pharmaceutical companies such as Eli Lilly consider the creation of these drugs an important development. They call it the “beginning of the end” for Alzheimer’s, underscoring its transformative potential in the battle against this crippling disease.
Oddly enough, the prevalence of dementia is increasing. Research has shown a decrease in age-specific dementia rates for American adults. There is a growing body of research showing that between 1984 and 2024, these rates have declined by roughly two-thirds. We’ve seen similar trends in other countries, like Sweden, the Netherlands, the UK and recently in France. This Bicycle Boom Paradox raises some serious questions. What is causing these 1) unknown factors that are leading to a drop in dementia prevalence in some older age groups despite a rapidly aging population?
The recently released Lancet Commission on dementia prevention contains a shocking statistic. They propose that if we were able to intervene on 14 modifiable risk factors, we could avoid approximately 45% of dementia cases. This highlights an essential aspect of public health: proactive measures can significantly reduce the risk of developing dementia. For one, a recent study found that the risk of developing dementia has dropped dramatically in recent decades. This decrease is uniformly reflected at all ages, including age 50, 60, and 70 years old.
Despite these notable advances, some public health threats are growing markedly worse. Young adult colorectal cancer Rising colorectal cancer rates among young adults, defined as ages 15 to 39, are increasing at alarming rates. From 1990-2019, these rates dramatically rose by an egregious 70% among G20 nations. This highlight and blur makes apparent two undeniable truths. On one end of the spectrum, we’re witnessing groundbreaking advancements in the treatment and prevention of dementia. Conversely, serious public health crises remain a dire threat to younger Americans.