DURHAM, N.C. - A Duke University study says that one in three people over the age of 70 have some form of memory loss. 

It's the first population-based study to determine the number of people who have some form of cognitive impairment, with and without dementia.

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The study also shows an estimated 3.4 million Americans have dementia severe enough to keep them from functioning independently, while another 5.4 million people over 70 have memory loss that disrupts their regular routine.  

Alzheimer’s disease advocates say studies like this one highlight the need for increased funding for research into early detection and treatment.  

Alan Stirling of Raleigh volunteered to be part of a Duke University Medical Center research study on Alzheimer’s disease.  Stirling, who was in his late 70sat the time, was concerned about recent memory lapses.

“In my case, I was concerned about the usual senior moments, where I would go outside and say, ‘why am I here?’” he said.

The study involved several tests to gauge memory loss, including new MRI technology that looks at memory centers in the brain.  This functional MRI testing may help doctors predict who will develop Alzheimer’s in the future. 

“The use of imaging may not be as a massive screening tool in everyone, let’s say when they hit age 65, but I think it will be useful in a population that has a family history of the disease or does have early memory problems,” said Dr. Jeff Petrella, director of Duke’s Alzheimer’s Imaging Research Lab.

Stirling and other study participants were followed for three years.

“Though I don’t suffer from claustrophobia, the end of that time, with the noise of the magnet going round and round, I thought, 'this is not a fun job,'” Stirling said.

Petrella says the early diagnostic testing will become even more important as new therapies are developed to treat early stage Alzheimer’s.  

The study was conducted by a team of researchers at Duke University Medical Center, the University of Michigan, the University of Iowa, the University of Southern California and the RAND Corporation.

Learn More:

Eastern North Carolina Alzheimer's Association


Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at Duke University Medical Center