Many of our cases involve elderly people who suffered from dementia.  We see, first hand, the emotional toll this disease can take on an individual or family.  However, a recent study reported by the New York Times has now estimated the financial toll of dementia – at around $109 billion.  By comparison, total costs for cancer were $77 billion.    

The costs for dementia will grow as our elderly population grows.  The article reports the study projects dementia costs to double by 2040, to a range of $379 to $511 billion.

Fortunately, these costs have been noticed by the government.  This week the president announced an ambitious initiative to map the human brain.  You can read the full PBS article here.

According to the article, it is hoped that this measure “will give scientists the knowledge to cure diseases like Alzheimer’s.”