The 87%: Guest Editorial

Abstract

One in eight people 65 and older (13 percent) has Alzheimer’s disease.Alzheimer’s Association, 2012 Alzheimer’s 
Disease Facts and Figures, Alzheimer’s & 
Dementia, Vol. 8, p.14, 2012.After digesting this sobering fact, one might reasonably wonder—what about the other 87% of the 65+ age group? Although most older Americans are living without cognitive impairment, they still face the looming specter of dementia in much later life and very likely have experienced subtle declines in cognitive function. For these reasons, age-related cognitive decline demands our attention and a continued, concerted research effort. If dementia can be prevented, it will come from a better understanding of the aging brain and its capacity to adapt in the face of altered or diminished function. This understanding will aid in the development of appropriate targets for therapeutics and remedial actions that maintain healthy cognitive function.