First Alzheimer's Discussion at World Economic Forum Major Step Forward

35.6 Million People Worldwide Have Alzheimer's Disease And Other Dementias, Incidence Projected to Double Ever 20 years

LONDON, January 25 - For the first time ever, Alzheimer's disease is a focus at the World
Economic Forum. Today more than 35 million people worldwide have dementia and
those numbers will double every 20 years to 65.7 million in 2030 and 115.4
million in 2050, according to the World Alzheimer's Report from Alzheimer's
disease International (ADI), a London-based, nonprofit, international
federation of 71 national Alzheimer organizations.

"The rapid increase in Alzheimer's disease creates a significant
economic, social and personal burden, yet we are just beginning to mobilize
around this condition" said Dr. Robert N. Butler, moderator of the Davos
panel and CEO and President, International Longevity Center. "Today's meeting
of government, corporate and civil society representatives is an important
step in driving urgency to act."

"Unchecked, dementia and Alzheimer's will impose enormous burdens on
individuals, families, health care infrastructures, industry and the
worldwide economy," explained Wortman. "There is hope in taking action to
support research for better treatments and to fund and improve dementia care.
We need to raise awareness that available treatment, care and support, even
today, can make a difference."

"Alzheimer's presents a challenge on the scale of HIV/AIDS, an
area in which we can take lessons from the global community approach. We have
the opportunity today to find partners who will work across sectors,
industries and borders to give a voice to people who suffer from Alzheimer's
and to accelerate progress in curbing its devastating effects," said Olivier
Brandicourt, another panellist and President and General Manager of Pfizer's
Primary Care Business Unit.

Countries that lead in developing frameworks for addressing Alzheimer's
include Australia, England, South Korea, Norway, Canada, France, Germany,
Japan and Sweden.

Increase in Prevalence Driven By Low and Middle Income Countries

According to the 2009 World Alzheimer's Report, much of the increase
prevalence of dementia is attributable to increases in people with dementia
in low and middle income countries. The researchers found that currently
57.7% of all people with dementia worldwide live in low and middle income
countries, which is projected to rise to 70.5% by 2050.

Growth in dementia over the next 20 years will be much steeper in low and
middle compared with high income countries. The report forecasts a 40%
increase in numbers in Europe, 63% in North America, 77% in the southern
Latin American cone and 89% in the developed Asia Pacific countries. These
figures are to be compared with 117% growth in East Asia, 107% in South Asia,
134-146% in the rest of Latin America, and 125% in North Africa and the
Middle East.

Worldwide, the economic cost of dementia has been estimated as US$315
billion annually. The total annual costs per person with dementia have been
estimated as US$1,521 in a low income country, rising to US$4,588 in middle
income countries, and US$17,964 in high income countries. (Anders Wimo, et
al. "An Estimate of the Total Worldwide Societal Costs of Dementia in 2005."
Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association. Volume 3,
Issue 2, April 2007.)

About Alzheimer's disease and Dementia

Dementia is a syndrome due to brain disease. It is usually chronic, and
is characterized by a progressive, global deterioration in intellectual
abilities, including memory, learning, orientation, language, comprehension,
and judgment. Alzheimer's disease, in particular, is progressive and fatal.
Dementia mainly affects older people, especially those over age 65. Dementia
is one of the major causes of disability in late-life and is linked to a
large number of underlying brain diseases. Alzheimer's is the most common
cause of dementia; vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, and
frontotemporal dementia are the next most common.

Alzheimer 's Disease International

Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI) is an international federation of
71 Alzheimer associations around the world, in official relations with the
World Health Organization. Each member is the national Alzheimer association
in their country that supports people with dementia and their families. ADI's
mission is to improve the quality of life of people with dementia and their
families throughout the world. Please visit www.alz.co.uk/adi/.

    Alzheimer's Disease International
    64 Great Suffolk Street
    London SE1 0BL
    T: +44-207-981-0880
    F: +44-207-928-2357
    m.wortmann@alz.co.uk
    info@alz.co.uk

www.alz.co.uk

CONTACT: Marc Wortmann, Executive Director, Alzheimer's Disease
International, Tel: +44-20-7981-0880

Alzheimer's Disease International: 64 Great Suffolk Street, London SE1 0BL, T: +44-207-981-0880, F: +44-207-928-2357, m.wortmann at alz.co.uk, info at alz.co.uk; CONTACT: Marc Wortmann, Executive Director, Alzheimer's Disease International, Tel: +44-20-7981-0880