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Alzheimer's Disease and Dementias

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Dementia causes serious loss of cognitive ability, including memory, communication and language, reason and judgment, and visual perception. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form, but all dementias go beyond the normal signs of aging to interfere with daily life, affecting millions of people each year. RAND experts analyze long-term care options and effectiveness, as well as how dementia impacts caregivers, society, and the economy.

News Release
Poor Sleep and Nighttime Wakefulness Associated with Diminished Cognitive Function Among African Americans
More fragmented sleep and longer periods of wakefulness after bedtime among a group of low-income African American adults were associated with lower cognitive function such as poor attention and visuospatial ability. Improving sleep may support prevention of Alzheimer's and related dementias.
Jun 15, 2022
Report
The Impact of Funding Brain Health Research Focused on Women
An examination of the impact of increased funding for research on Alzheimer's disease and Alzheimer's disease-related dementias in women showed that small investments in women's health research can yield large gains, including benefits above investing in general research.
Apr 22, 2021

Explore Alzheimer's Disease and Dementias

Blog
Dementia Rates, Deepfakes, Migrant Students: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on the decline of dementia rates among Americans, the dangers of deepfakes, data privacy after the reversal of Roe v. Wade, and more.
Nov 18, 2022
News Release
Prevalence of Dementia Is Declining Among Older Americans; Inequalities Reduced but Still Persist
The prevalence of dementia in the United States is declining among people over age 65, dropping 3.7 percentage points from 2000 to 2016.
Nov 7, 2022
Journal Article
Estimated Wasteful Spending on Aducanumab Dispensing in the U.S. Medicare Population: A Cross-Sectional Analysis
Aducanumab, a weight-dosed Alzheimer's drug, is available in two fixed-dose vial sizes. This may result in large amounts of discarded drug and wasteful spending. More-efficient vial sizes could save Medicare money if the drug is approved for widespread use.
Aug 11, 2022
Blog
Synthetic Opioids, Ukrainian Grain, the Metaverse: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on countering the illegal flow of synthetic opioids, freeing up Ukrainian grain to prevent famine, the importance of defining the metaverse, and more.
Jun 24, 2022
Journal Article
Sleep Disturbances, Changes in Sleep, and Cognitive Function in Low-Income African Americans
In a predominantly African-American sample of older adults, worsening of sleep efficiency was associated with poorer cognitive function. Improving sleep health may support Alzheimer's prevention and reduce health disparities.
Jun 23, 2022
News Release
Research Project Will Probe Role of Structural Racism in Development of Dementias and Cognitive Decline Among African Americans
The RAND Corporation and the University of Pittsburgh will study residents of two predominantly Black neighborhoods in Pittsburgh to examine how exposure to the legacies of structural racism at the neighborhood and individual levels may contribute to the risk of Alzheimer's disease and related dementia in African Americans.
Mar 14, 2022
Periodical
RAND Review: March-April 2022
The cover story describes a yearlong study of a group of military veterans experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles. Other features examine the global digital skills gap and the magnitude and sources of disagreement among gun policy experts.
Mar 10, 2022
Report
Investment in Women's Health Research Could Reap Large Societal Benefits
The potential gains from women-focused research are substantial, given the limitations in knowledge about disease development and impacts for women relative to men. Savings would include increased life years, fewer disruptions to work productivity, and fewer years with disease and functional dependence.
Oct 11, 2021
News Release
Nearly a Third of Americans Use Gray Market When Hiring Caregivers for the Elderly and Those with Dementia
Nearly a third of Americans who arranged for paid care for an older person or someone with dementia employed workers who were not hired through a regulated agency.
Jun 21, 2021
Journal Article
The Foreclosure Crisis, Community Change, and the Cognitive Health of Older Adults
Community-level foreclosures are associated with a faster decline in individual cognition at older ages, with implications for the cognitive health of older adults.
Dec 1, 2020
Journal Article
Meta-issues: On Writing Scientific Manuscripts With a Stakeholder Group of Persons Living With Dementia
Writing scientific papers with stakeholders who had dementia posed special challenges.
Jun 5, 2020
Journal Article
Contributions of Persons Living With Dementia to Scientific Research Meetings: Results From the National Research Summit on Care, Services, and Supports for Persons With Dementia and Their Caregivers
A stakeholder group of persons living with dementia influenced the agenda and outcomes of a national research summit on care, services, and supports for persons living with the disease.
Apr 1, 2020
Journal Article
The Experiences of Persons Living with Dementia Planning for a Dementia Research Meeting: Lessons Learned From the National Research Summit on Care, Services, and Supports for Persons With Dementia and Their Caregivers
A stakeholder group of individuals living with dementia made valuable contributions to a research summit on the disease.
Apr 1, 2020
Journal Article
Effect of Early-Stage Alzheimer's Disease on Household Financial Outcomes
Our goal in this study is estimate, on net, the financial effects of early-stage Alzheimer's Disease, from the start of first symptoms to diagnosis, on individuals and their families.
Mar 10, 2020
Brochure
Effecting Change, Improving Health
The RAND Corporation is dedicated to transforming the wellbeing of all people by improving health care systems in the United States and abroad.
Feb 7, 2020
Blog
Disinformation, Drug Policy, Artificial Intelligence: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on tools to fight disinformation online, the negative consequences of punishing pregnant women for drug use, how to ensure public trust in artificial intelligence, and more.
Nov 15, 2019
News Release
Capacity Limits in Australian Health Care System Could Delay Widespread Access to a Future Alzheimer's Treatment
As in other countries, the Australian health care system has limited capacity to rapidly move a future treatment for Alzheimer's disease from approval into wide clinical use, which could leave thousands of older people without access to transformative care if such a breakthrough occurs.
Nov 11, 2019
Report
Australia Is Not Prepared to Deliver an Alzheimer's Treatment
As in other countries, the Australian health care system has limited capacity to rapidly move a future treatment for Alzheimer's disease from approval into wide clinical use. That could leave thousands of older people without access to transformative care if such a breakthrough occurs.
Nov 11, 2019

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RAND Topic:
Alzheimer's Disease and Dementias

Topic Synonyms:
Neurocognitive Disorders

Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Mary Ellen Slaughter

Senior Statistical Analyst

Mary Ellen Slaughter is a statistical analyst at the RAND Corporation. She has extensive experience in many different types of regression analyses including survival analysis, mixed effects modeling, and trajectory analysis and has worked on numerous health policy projects in the past ten years.…
Michael D. Hurd

Director, RAND Center for the Study of Aging

Michael Hurd is a senior principal researcher at the RAND Corporation, where he directs the RAND Center for the Study of Aging. His research interests cover a wide range of topics in the economics of aging including: the structure of private pensions and Social Security and their effects on…

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