Tom Fudge: Alzheimer's disease is named for the late German doctor Alios Alzheimer, who first described the disease in 1906. Today, in America it is the most common form of dementia. It destroys brain cells and causes problems with memory, thinking, and behavior that can have a devastating impact on daily life. In the past 15 years, we've learned a tremendous amount about Alzheimer's, but we have no cure. As our society ages, and baby boomers start approaching old age, the effect of Alzheimer’s on our society could be very dramatic. Today, about five million people over 65 are believed to have Alzheimer's disease. By the year 2050, some estimate it could affect 16 million people. In the near future, Alzheimer's is expected to have a huge impact on the cost of Medicare.
Alzheimer's: The Cost of Growing Old , an Envision San Diego special airs tonight at 8 p.m. on KPBS TV.
Guests
- Joanne Faryon , KPBS reporter and producer of "Alzheimer's: The Cost of Growing Old.”
- Amita Sharma , KPBS reporter who investigated the toll Alzheimer's takes on caregivers.
- Elsa Sevilla, freelance reporter who looked at current treatments and research for an Alzheimer's cure.
- Dr. John Daly , professor in the division of geriatric medicine at UCSD and is medical director of Seniors Only Care , an outpatient geriatric assessment clinic located at the UCSD Medical Center .
