Analysis of Technological Developments in the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease through Patent Documents

Abstract

Population aging and the consequent change in the profile of the age pyramid are already a reality the world over. One undeniable effect of this aging process is the significant increase in the number of people with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which is the most common form of dementia, accounting for around 50% - 60% of all cases. AD tends to affect people in their 60 s, becoming progressively more commonplace in older age groups. It is an incurable disease, and patients can live for many years taking medication on a daily basis. This study shows that research into AD is on the rise around the world because the pharmaceutical industry and research institutions are seeking new types of drugs to treat and even cure Alzheimer’s patients. By analyzing patent documents, we map out the potential future treatments for this disease, indicating the leading countries and drugs companies that have invested most in a bid to accelerate progress towards new discoveries about the disease and the development of new drugs.