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Panel Detail:
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
9:30 AM - 10:45 AM
Alzheimer's Disease: Meeting the Challenges in an Aging Society
Speakers:
Harry Johns,
President and CEO, Alzheimer's Association
Jeff Morby,
Chairman and Co-Founder, Cure Alzheimer’s Fund
Moderator:
Greg Simon, Senior Vice President, Worldwide Policy, Pfizer Inc.
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Harry Johns of the Alzheimer's Association says the general public's level of concern about Alzheimer's pales in comparison to concerns about cancer and heart disease, and that is reflected in the amount of research funding each receives. At left is Jeff Morby of the Cure Alzheimer's Fund.
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Much more than just simple forgetfulness, Alzheimer's disease is a complex neurodegenerative illness causing not only great emotional stress for patients, families and caregivers, but also a serious economic burden for the health-care system. The Alzheimer's Association reported 5.3 million cases in the United States as of 2009; the disease affects 13 percent of those over age 65 and 40 percent of those over age 85. The total costs of treating Alzheimer's and other dementias to Medicare, Medicaid and businesses amount to more than $148 billion each year. As the American population continues to gray, the disease prevalence (and the associated financial burden) will correspondingly swell. How can we respond and prepare? Pharmaceutical executives, economists, employers and other stakeholders discuss the magnitude of the challenge and strategies for containing the personal, social and economic damage caused by this insidious disease.
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