As our nation and our world ages, the number of people living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) continues to grow. According to the World Health Organization, nearly 78 million people will be living with dementia by 2030. In the United States, it is estimated that over 7 million people ages 65 or older had dementia in 2020. That number is expected to grow to 13.9 million by 2060. Dementia impacts not only the individual who has been diagnosed, but also their families, caregivers, and communities.
What is Alzheimer's disease?
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. Other common types of dementia include vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia and frontotemporal degeneration disorders. Dementia is a general term for changes in memory thinking, and/or other cognitive skills. Dementia can diminish a person’s daily functioning (driving, shopping, communicating, working), social connectedness, and ability to live independently. It impacts comprehension and judgment and can lead to psychological and behavioral changes. These symptoms can take an emotional and financial toll on the person living with dementia and their caregivers as more supervision becomes necessary for an individual to live safely. The WHO estimates the global cost of dementia in 2019 to have been $1.3 trillion. This includes the costs of direct as well as unpaid care.
RTI has a strong record of supporting communities and the aging network as they build their abilities to identify people with possible dementia, work effectively with individuals and families, and increase their knowledge of and referrals to appropriate services. Our work helps people understand the impact of dementia and provides policymakers with information about the prevalence, costs, and effective approaches to diagnosing, treating, and providing services for people with dementia. RTI staff include researchers, economists, and epidemiologists who have in-depth knowledge of ADRD and aging and are closely involved in the field and aware of emerging issues.
Areas of expertise in Alzheimer's disease and dementia include:
- Providing Technical Assistance
- Developing Data Collection Methods and Tools
- Synthesizing Data and Conducting Case Studies
- Using Nationally Representative Survey Data
- Utilizing Health Economics
Our clients reflect a broad range of government, public, and private organizations, including the Administration on Aging/Administration for Community Living (AoA/ACL), Office for the Assistance Secretary of Planning and Evaluation (ASPE), and pharmaceutical companies.
