According to the Alzheimer’s Association’s 2016 figures, five million American’s are living with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. Additionally, this year Alzheimer’s and other dementias will cost the U.S. $236 billion, not to mention the over $18 billion of unpaid care provided by unpaid family caregivers (2015 figures).

Without a medical breakthrough, projected figures show that by 2050 the number of people age 65 and older with Alzheimer's disease could triple to nearly 14 million people, with some projections adjusting the figure to 16 million.