Alzheimer's disease (AD) is now, worldwide, the most common form of dementia (a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life). Primarily found in the elderly, AD was unknown until the beginning of the 19th century. By 1926 only 33 cases had been reported. After World War II in the mid-20th century, the incidence exploded, with more than 24 million people in industrialized societies now disabled and dying from this brain-killing epidemic.
Alzheimer's was once less common in developing countries, such as China, but their recent changes toward the Western diet caused the incidence of AD to rise proportionally. By 2040 it is predicted that 81.1 million people will develop AD worldwide. The burden on patients, families, and healthcare businesses will become even more enormous. Consider that nursing homecare alone in the US is now, on average, $47,000 per patient per year.
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