The prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease in the United States has been rising at an alarming rate, sparking deep concern about care, treatment, and the possibility of a cure. Below are some of the most recent statistics from the Alzheimer’s Association.
Alzheimer’s Disease: Facts and Figures
- Someone in the U.S. is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s every 65 to 67 seconds.
- 7.2 million Americans are expected to be living with the disease in 2025; by 2050, that number is projected to reach nearly 13 million.
- Approximately 1 in 9 people aged 65 or older has Alzheimer’s.
- The lifetime risk at age 45 is 1 in 5 for women and 1 in 10 for men.
- Two-thirds of those diagnosed are women.
- Younger-onset Alzheimer’s affects an estimated 200,000 Americans between ages 30 and 64.
- Families bear 70% of the lifetime cost of dementia care—about $300,000 on average.
Alzheimer’s is a fatal disease and currently the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Of the top 10 causes of death, it remains the only one without an effective treatment or cure.
A Brief History
Alzheimer’s disease was first identified in 1906 by German psychiatrist and neuropathologist Dr. Alois Alzheimer, who observed distinctive abnormalities in the brain of one of his patients. At this time, an incidence of Alzheimer’s Disease was rare.
For decades, cases remained unreported. As awareness and diagnostic tools improved through the mid-20th century, reported cases began to climb dramatically from the 1970s onward. Today, there are over 55 million cases worldwide, and this number is expected to double by 2030 unless effective prevention and treatment strategies are implemented.
This steady rise suggests that modern lifestyles and environmental factors may be accelerating the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
The encouraging news: research now points to ways we can prevent, slow, and even reverse symptoms—especially if intervention occurs before significant memory loss develops.
Rethinking The Root Cause
In his original research, Dr. Alzheimer discovered two hallmark brain abnormalities:
- Amyloid plaques – clumps of protein deposits outside neurons
- Neurofibrillary tangles – twisted protein fibers inside neurons
He also noted the possible involvement of microorganisms—a clue that has since gained renewed attention.
Recent studies by Clement L. Trempe, M.D. and Thomas J. Lewis, Ph.D. propose that the immune system plays a central role in the disease’s development. Dr. Lewis explains, “If your immune system health is vulnerable, then opportunistic things—like our toxic, infectious, inflammatory world—can take hold.”
According to their findings, amyloid plaques and tangles may actually serve a protective function in the brain, acting as antimicrobial defenses rather than direct causes of disease. This perspective challenges the conventional “symptom-driven” approach, which targets these proteins with anti-amyloid or anti-tau drugs—treatments that do not cure the disease and often require lifelong use.
Trempe and Lewis conclude that weakened immunity, chronic inflammation, and suboptimal health from birth onward make individuals more susceptible to opportunistic infections and, eventually, Alzheimer’s. They propose that immune system vitality may be the single most important risk factor for all chronic diseases, including Alzheimer’s.
A New Approach to Prevention and Treatment
Drs. Trempe and Lewis advocate for a paradigm shift in medicine—from managing symptoms to proactively assessing and improving immune health. Their recommendations include:
- Testing immune system status using inflammation biomarkers to identify those at risk.
- Providing personalized guidance to strengthen immune health.
- Testing for and treating infections in individuals with compromised immunity.
- Implementing these measures across all age groups, especially among those with early signs of chronic illness.
Dr. Lewis emphasizes that the traditional medical model—focused on symptom management—cannot solve Alzheimer’s because it fails to address root causes.
Dr. Lewis explains, “Allopaths do not look at the entire milieu of an individual, which is what we have to do to properly diagnose and characterize and then reverse this disease, all of which are completely doable with the right scientific approach.”
At his Florida clinic, Dr. Lewis employs a chronic disease risk profiling tool that evaluates 121 health attributes in about 30 minutes. The goal is to upregulate the immune system first, then treat the underlying condition.
When testing and intervention begin early, Dr. Lewis reports that Alzheimer’s can be slowed or even reversed, with potential extensions of healthy life expectancy by 5 to 20 years.
In a podcast with Jonathan Landsman, Dr. Lewis notes that improving nutrition, exercising regularly, and reducing exposure to environmental toxins can measurably lower Alzheimer’s risk by strengthening immune resilience.
Sources:
- Trempe, C.L., & Lewis, T.J. (2018). It’s Never Too Early or Too Late—End the Epidemic of Alzheimer’s by Preventing or Reversing Causation From Pre-birth to Death.
Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 10(205). https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2018.00205 - Natural Health365 Podcast (Episode NH365-097): Alzheimer’s Disease – The Myths and Lies Exposed. Host: Jonathan Landsman, Guest: Thomas Lewis, Ph.D.
- Alzheimer’s Association
Disclaimer:
This article is intended for educational and awareness purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. Every woman’s body is different; if you have concerns about breast pain, lymphatic health, or your personal cancer risk, please consult your healthcare provider.