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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.

Journal Article

Dementia Is More Prevalent Among Rural Seniors

Dec 20, 2017

A nationally representative study of 16,000 U.S. seniors is the first to show that dementia and cognitive impairment are more common among rural seniors than their urban peers. However, rural investments in boosting high school graduation rates have narrowed the gap.
Report

U.S. Health System Should Prepare for Future Alzheimer's Treatments

Nov 15, 2017

The U.S. health care system isn't ready to meet demand for a breakthrough Alzheimer's treatment. Results from clinical trials are producing guarded optimism that a breakthrough could arrive as early as 2020. If this happens, up to 2.1 million patients could develop Alzheimer's dementia by 2040 while on treatment and evaluation waiting lists.

Explore Alzheimer's Disease and Dementias

Journal Article

Journal Article

Anemia Is Associated with Incidence of Dementia: A National Health Screening Study in Korea Involving 37,900 Persons

Anemia, especially when it is severe, is an independent risk factor for the incidence of dementia.

Jan 16, 2018
Infographic

When Alzheimer's Drugs Arrive, How Prepared Will We Be to Meet Demand? An Assessment of U.S. Health Care Infrastructure

Drugs to halt the progression of Alzheimer's disease may be available by 2020, but millions of U.S. patients might have to wait more than 14 months for initial appointments in the multistep process unless health care system capacity is increased.

Nov 15, 2017
News Release

News Release

U.S. Health Care System Unprepared to Move Future Alzheimer's Treatment into Rapid Clinical Use

The U.S. health care system lacks the capacity to rapidly move a treatment for Alzheimer's disease from approval into wide clinical use, a shortcoming that could leave millions of people without access to transformative care if such a breakthrough occurs.

Nov 15, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

Future Monetary Costs of Dementia in the United States Under Alternative Dementia Prevalence Scenarios

In the present paper we modified the age-specific prevalence rates according to two scenarios.

Oct 4, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

Neighborhood Age Structure and Cognitive Function in a Nationally-Representative Sample of Older Adults in the U.S.

In this nationally-representative sample of U.S. adults aged 51 and over, living in a neighborhood in the highest tertile of the percent of adults 65 and older was associated with significantly better cognitive function.

Aug 8, 2017
Brochure

Brochure

Innovating for Answers: Social and Economic Policy Research at RAND

This publication highlights recent RAND social and economic policy research projects that have produced important new policies, framed issues in new ways, balanced multiple priorities and difficult trade-offs, and prompted meaningful change.

May 31, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

How Policy Can Help Develop and Sustain Workforce Capacity in UK Dementia Research: Insights from a Career Tracking Analysis and Stakeholder Interviews

This article attempts to identify research support strategies likely to be effective for strengthening the UK's dementia research landscape and ensuring a sustainable and competitive workforce.

Sep 6, 2016
Testimony

Dementia Long-Term Care Policy Options for Family Caregivers and Medicare

The total cost of caring for people in the United States with dementia in 2010 was estimated to be between $159 billion and $215 billion. As the nation's population ages, these costs will soar. Lawmakers could consider policy changes that support family caregivers and expand Medicaid eligibility.

Jul 13, 2016
Brochure

Spotlight on 2015

RAND Europe's annual review, Spotlight on 2015, illustrates how our work helps to improve people's lives through policymaking based on objective research and rigorous analysis.

Jan 26, 2016
Journal Article

Informal Caregiving for Dementia in the U.S.

Family members play a critical role in caring for older adults with and without dementia. In 2010, 5.5 million U.S. adults age 70 and older received informal care, including 3.6 million with cognitive impairment or dementia.

Oct 20, 2015
Report

Report

A Review of the Dementia Research Landscape and Workforce Capacity in the United Kingdom

This report, commissioned by the Alzheimer's Society, aims to inform funding and capacity-building efforts in UK dementia research by examining the current research and workforce landscape, and associated strengths and gaps.

Sep 14, 2015
Report

Report

A Review of the Dementia Research Landscape and Workforce Capacity in the United Kingdom: Extended Summary

This extended summary provides an overview of the findings of a report commissioned by the Alzheimer's Society. It aims to inform funding and capacity-building efforts in UK dementia research by examining the current research and workforce landscape.

Sep 14, 2015
Periodical

Periodical

RAND Review: September-October 2015

This issue of RAND Review reports on the staggering costs of dementia in the United States; the most critical global choices and challenges the next U.S. president will likely face; tips to protect the health of kids heading back to school; and more.

Aug 21, 2015
Essay

Struggling with Dementia

The costs of dementia are staggering. A recent RAND analysis quantifies the scope of the problem in the United States and serves as a wake-up call to policymakers everywhere.

Aug 10, 2015
Report

Learning from Medical Breakthroughs to Improve Treatment for Dementia

Medical breakthroughs have enabled the effective treatment of some conditions, like certain cancers and HIV, transforming them from fatal into manageable. Better understanding of the particular social, economic, political, legislative, and scientific contexts that have contributed to accelerating progress in treatments could inform dementia research.

Aug 4, 2015
Journal Article

Journal Article

Dementia Care Management in an Underserved Community: The Comparative Effectiveness of Two Different Approaches

Compares the effectiveness and costs of telephone-only approach to in-person plus telephone for delivering an evidence-based, coordinated care management program for dementia.

Feb 19, 2015
Multimedia

Cognitive Aging, Neuropathology, and Resilience

Session from the 21st Annual RAND Summer Institute, held July 7-11, 2014, in Santa Monica, CA, addressing critical issues facing our aging population.

Sep 8, 2014
Commentary

Meeting the Caregivers Challenge

Ill or injured military personnel and veterans and people with dementia are unique populations, but they give us a preview of the enormous long-term care challenges Americans will face in the decades to come.

Aug 25, 2014

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RAND Topic:
Alzheimer's Disease and Dementias

Topic Synonyms:
Neurocognitive Disorders