Today is World Alzheimer’s Day, and the big news of the day is a report from Alzheimer’s Disease International, which paints a grim picture of the future if this devastating disease goes unchecked. The report says that currently 35 million people worldwide suffer from Alzheimer’s Disease – and that number is expected to double every twenty years, reaching 115 MILLION Alzheimer’s and dementia sufferers by 2050.

Here’s an excerpt from the report:

Not only are the numbers reason for concern, but Alzheimer’s disease and dementia have an enormous impact on societies; it can be called an epidemic that is increasing its pace with the “graying” of the population around the world. Poor recognition, underdiagnosis and stigma cause significant problems for people with dementia and their families in countries of all sizes and communities of all income levels.

The ADI report also highlights the financial costs of dementia, which were estimated to be over $300 billion in 2005 alone. These costs, currently borne mostly in the developed world, are also expected to skyrocket together with global rates of the disease. Already, the costs of caring for Alzheimerís and dementia patients consume over one quarter of the US Medicare and Medicaid budgets. If left unchecked, Cure Alzheimer’s Fund’s estimates suggest they could single-handedly bankrupt Medicare and Medicaid within the next decade.

We are dedicated to ensuring that this grim picture does not come to pass. We’ve made tremendous progress already, and we are working to find a cure by 2020. But to get there, we need your continued support. Please donate to help us find a cure and stop this devastating disease.