The Great Debate UK

Alzheimer’s Disease: A Global Epidemic

-William Thies, Ph.D. is Chief Medical and Scientific Officer of the Alzheimer’s Association. The opinions expressed are his own.-

This week, more than 5,600 of the world’s leading scientists gathered in Paris to report and study the latest advances in Alzheimer’s research at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference 2011 (AAIC).

Alzheimer’s disease is an escalating international crisis. It is under-resourced, under-funded and under-prioritized by governments worldwide.

Latest estimates tell us that more than 35 million people worldwide are living with dementia. Unless we can change the course of this disease, this number is expected to double by 2030 and more than triple by 2050.