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Asian region to see huge increase in Alzheimer's cases

More than 26 million people worldwide have Alzheimer's disease and a new forecast says the number will quadruple by 2050, with the biggest increase likely to be in Asia.

At that rate, one in 85 people will have the brain-destroying disease in 40 years, researchers from Johns Hopkins University conclude.

The new estimates, which were to be presented yesterday at an Alzheimer's Association conference in Washington, are not very different from previous projections. But they serve as a sobering reminder of the toll to come if scientists cannot find better ways to battle Alzheimer's and protect aging brains.

The biggest jump is projected for Asia, home of almost half of today's Alzheimer's cases, 12.6 million. By 2050, Asia will have 62.8 million of the world's 106 million Alzheimer's patients, the study projects. North American is expected to see 8.8 million cases by 2050, compared to 3.1 million today.

The project was funded by Elan Pharmaceuticals and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals.
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