Cost of care for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias in the United States: 2016 to 2060

Abstract

Medical and long-term care for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRDs) can impose a large economic burden on individuals and societies. We estimated the per capita cost of ADRDs care in the in the United States in 2016 and projected future aggregate care costs during 2020–2060. Based on a previously published methodology, we used U.S. Health and Retirement Survey (2010–2016) longitudinal data to estimate formal and informal care costs. In 2016, the estimated per patient cost of formal care was $28,078 (95% confidence interval [CI]: $25,893–$30,433), and informal care cost valued in terms of replacement cost and forgone wages was $36,667 ($34,025–$39,473) and $15,792 ($12,980–$18,713), respectively. Aggregate formal care cost and formal plus informal care cost using replacement cost and forgone wage methods were $196 billion (95% uncertainty range [UR]: $179–$213 billion), $450 billion ($424–$478 billion), and $305 billion ($278–$333 billion), respectively, in 2020. These were projected to increase to $1.4 trillion ($837 billion–$2.2 trillion), $3.3 trillion ($1.9–$5.1 trillion), and $2.2 trillion ($1.3–$3.5 trillion), respectively, in 2060.