Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia and is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States. It is a progressive disease that begins with mild memory loss and subsequently results in an inability to carry on a conversation, carry out normal daily activities and respond to the environment. This disease affects 1 in 10 people that are 65 years of age and older. However, the risk for developing AD increases with age. After age 65, the risk of developing Alzheimer's doubles every five years. By the age of 85, nearly 1 in 3 older adults are directly affected by AD.

Currently, there are over 5.8 million individuals in the United States living with Alzheimer’s disease, with a new case being diagnosed every 65 seconds. This number is expected to nearly triple to 14 million by 2060. By midcentury, a new case of Alzheimer’s disease will be diagnosed in the United States every 33 seconds. The situation is more dire in South Carolina. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), South Carolina currently has the fourth-highest death rate per capita from Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and AD related dementias (ADRD) in the United States. 100,000 South Carolinians are currently accounted for in the state's AD registry and this number is projected to increase to 120,000 by 2025. It is important to note that individuals in the early stages of these diseases or without ready access to healthcare services who have not been formally diagnosed are not included in these numbers. Due to this underreporting, the number of South Carolinians suffering from AD and ADRDs today is likely closer to 150,000 and will increase to 180,000 within three years.

Compounding this problem, is the lack of physicians, advanced nurse practitioners and other health care providers that are needed to meet the needs of South Carolinians with AD and ADRDs. South Carolina is one of the top five “Neurology Deserts” in the United States (we’re currently No. 3), which means that we have fewer neurologists than almost every other state in the US. South Carolina also has a high need for geriatricians, but only 66 are currently practicing in the state. To meet the demands of our patient population with neurodegenerative diseases like AD and ADRD, we will need an increase of 334% in the number of health care providers with the specialty skills required to care for these individuals.

Recognizing these needs, multiple universities, charitable organizations and government institutions in South Carolina have partnered to establish the South Carolina-Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. We invite you to explore our website to learn more about how we’re working to improve the lives of patients with AD and ADRDs and their caregivers.