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How common is dementia?
If someone in your family has Alzheimer's disease or another type of dementia, you are not alone. About 8 million Americans have some form of dementia. And many more have a family member or friend with the disease.

  • Alzheimer's is the most common type of dementia. About half of people with dementia have this disease. That's about 4 million Americans.1
  • Dementia with Lewy bodies is the next most common type of dementia. Up to a quarter of people with dementia have this type. That's about 800,000 Americans.2
  • Vascular dementia is the next most common type of dementia. It affects about 1.75 million Americans.3
  • Other less common types of dementia include dementia due to alcohol abuse, head injury or a brain tumor.
The chances of getting dementia increase as you get older. About 1 in 20 people over the age of 65 have some form of dementia. This figure rises to about 1 in 5 people age 80 and over.4

The number of people affected by dementia is increasing because more people are living longer.



Sources for the information on this page:
  1. Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center Alzheimer's disease: General information Available at: http://www.alzheimers.org/generalinfo.htm. (accessed on: 26 January, 2006)
  2. Lewy Body Dementia Association Inc. What is Lewy Body Dementia? Available at: http://www.lewybodydementia.org/lbdinfo.php. (accessed on 27 September 2006).
  3. Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center Multi-Infarct Dementia Fact Sheet Available at: http://www.alzheimers.org/pubs/mid.htm. (accessed on: 26 January, 2006)
  4. Alzheimer's Society Statistics [Alzheimer's Disease] Alzheimer's Society Alzheimer's Society 2001
This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.