Estimated 7.2 Million Americans 65 Years and Older Have Alzheimer Dementia
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, May 1, 2025 -- An estimated 7.2 million Americans aged 65 years and older are living with Alzheimer dementia, and almost all adults feel it is important to diagnose the disease in the early stages, according to a report published by the Alzheimer's Association.
The authors of the report describe the prevalence, mortality and morbidity, caregiving, and costs of care for Alzheimer disease. In addition, the report focuses on knowledge, interest, and views regarding detection and treatment of Alzheimer disease.
According to the report, in 2025, an estimated 7.2 million Americans aged 65 years and older are living with Alzheimer dementia (11 percent of those aged 65 years and older). People diagnosed at earlier stages (mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia) are eligible for new anti-amyloid medications (donanemab and lecanemab). Ninety-nine percent of Americans said it is important to diagnose Alzheimer disease in the early stages of the disease. Fifty-nine percent viewed cognitive screening as an important aspect of preventive health care. Seventy-nine percent of Americans would want to know if they had Alzheimer disease before experiencing symptoms or before symptoms interfere with daily activities. More than 90 percent of Americans would definitely or probably want a simple medical test to detect Alzheimer disease: 91 percent before symptoms appear and 95 percent when experiencing early symptoms. Eighty-three percent would want to undergo simple medical testing to allow for earlier treatment and care.
"Our survey finds that people want to know if they have Alzheimer [disease], and they want to know before it impacts their daily life," Elizabeth Edgerly, Ph.D., senior director of Community Programs and Services at the Alzheimer's Association, said in a statement.
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted May 2025
Read this next
Tinnitus Linked to Impaired Cognitive Function
FRIDAY, June 20, 2025 -- Individuals with versus those without tinnitus have significantly lower scores on cognitive function tests, according to a study published online May 29...
Doctors' Preferences for Their Own End-of-Life Care? No Life-Sustaining Practices
FRIDAY, June 13, 2025 -- Many physicians would personally prefer to avoid life-sustaining practices if they had advanced cancer or Alzheimer disease, according to a study...
Shorter Leukocyte Telomere Length Linked to Higher Incidence of Age-Related Brain Diseases
THURSDAY, June 12, 2025 -- Individuals with shorter leukocyte telomere length (LTL) have a higher incidence of stroke, dementia, and late-life depression (LLD), individually and...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.