National report says Alzheimer’s Disease expected to skyrocket

Published in RINewsToday on May 5, 2025

The 2025 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report, released last week by the Chicago-based Alzheimer’s Association, highlights a dramatic rise in the number of Americans affected by the disease—signaling an urgent call to action for policymakers.

According to the report, the total annual costs of caring for people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias (excluding unpaid care) is projected to be $384 billion in 2025.  The projected costs are expected to increase to $1 trillion (in today’s dollars) by mid-century.  Additionally, nearly 12 million family members and friends provide 19.2 billion hours of unpaid care, valued at an additional $413 billion. And deaths due to Alzheimer’s disease more than doubled between 2000 and 2022.

Taking a Comprehensive Look at Alzheimer’s

Published annually in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, the report has, since 2007, served as the leading source of comprehensive national data on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. It offers critical insights into the impact, prevalence, and challenges of Alzheimer’s, shaping national conversations and guiding policy and research efforts.

The new survey findings are included in an accompanying special report, American Perspectives on Early Detection of Alzheimer’s Disease in the Era of Treatment. The nationwide survey of more than 1,700 Americans aged 45 and older examined awareness and attitudes about Alzheimer’s disease, early detection and diagnosis, tests used to help diagnose Alzheimer’s, and treatments that can slow progression of the disease.

Their survey finds that people want to know if they have Alzheimer’s, and they want to know before it impacts their daily life. They want a simple test so they can access care earlier, including treatments that can slow the progression of the disease,” said Elizabeth Edgerly, Ph.D., senior director, Community Programs and Services, Alzheimer’s Association in a statement announcing the release of the report. “Their interest in early diagnosis and treatment highlights how important it is that we keep advancing toward diagnostic testing that is simple to administer and widely available. We also heard loud and clear that Americans want disease-modifying treatments that can make a real difference after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis,” she says.

If diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, 83% would be willing to participate in a clinical trial for treatment to help slow or cure the disease, note the findings. And 48% cited the ability to participate in clinical trials as a reason for wanting Alzheimer’s testing.

The study findings suggest that Americans are optimistic about new treatments to slow or prevent Alzheimer’s disease.  Eighty-one percent believe that new treatments to stop the progression of Alzheimer’s will emerge in the next decade. And 66% believe that new treatments to prevent the disease will be available soon.

Meanwhile, this year’s findings suggest that Americans are concerned about Alzheimer’s testing and how it could affect future care. Forty-four percent 44% worry that insurance will not cover future care and treatment following testing and 41% stay they are concerned about test accuracy.  Other concerns expressed by the respondents include the cost of testing, and losing confidence in abilities or not being allowed to do certain activities (such as driving).

There Are Not Enough Dementia Care Specialists

In the coming years, the 2025 Facts and Figures report warns policy makers of a shortage of dementia care specialists (including neurologists, geriatricians and geriatric psychiatrists) and direct care workers.  Fifty-five percent of primary care physicians caring for people living with Alzheimer’s report that there are not enough dementia care specialists in their communities.

Researchers estimate that 34% to 59% of those aged 65 years and older reside in areas with potential dementia specialist shortfalls. The report estimates that more than 18,000 geriatricians will be needed to care for the approximately 12.7 million individuals aged 65 and older projected to have Alzheimer’s dementia in 2050 — more than double the number of geriatricians who were practicing in 2021.

While it is reported that between 2014 and 2023, the number of direct care workers increased from 3.5 million to 5 million due to growing demand for long-term care, researchers estimate that over 861,000 additional direct care workers will be needed by 2032 — more new workers than in any other single occupation in the United States.

Between 2022 and 2032, the report warns that double-digit percentage increases in the number of needed home health and personal care aides will be needed in every state except Maine to meet the increasing demand. Despite recent increases, projections fall short of true workforce demand.

But they remain optimistic that the next decade will bring new Alzheimer’s treatments to slow, prevent and even cure the devastating disorder.  Four in five Americans (81%) believe new treatments to stop the progression of Alzheimer’s will emerge in the next decade, and 66% believe new treatments to prevent Alzheimer’s will be available soon.

Taking a Close Look at Rhode Island Statistics

According to the 2025 Rhode Island Alzheimer’s Statistics, 22,000 people are living with Alzheimer’s, representing 11.2% of the population aged 65 or older.  There are 37,000 unpaid caregivers providing $52 million in care (valued at $1.4 billion), notes the report’s findings. The statewide deaths from Alzheimer’s disease is 475.  Alzheimer’s Disease as a cause of death ranks 5th.

The Rhode Island Fact Sheet notes that the number of Rhode Islanders in Hospice (2017) with a primary diagnosis is 1,657 or 25 percent.  In 2018, the number of emergency visits per 1,000 people with dementia was 1,606.

And the state’s Medicaid costs of caring for people with Alzheimer’s in 2025 was $ 613 million.  The per capita Medicare spending on people with dementia in 2024 dollars is estimated to be $ 31,741.

Jerry Larkin, MD, Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health commented, “This report shows the need for continued public health efforts to support the growing number of people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias in Rhode Island and their caregivers.  The Rhode Island Department of Health is committed to supporting social service agencies to address cognitive decline among their patients and community members; improving diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s within primary care; and providing resources and educational tools, such as the RI Brain Health Guide for families to navigate systems to manage this disease.”

On WJAR’s Health Check 10 website, on April 29, 2025, Barbara Morse got the scoop in announcing the release of the latest Alzheimer’s Facts and Figures Report. For the first time, more than 7.2 million people in the U.S. are living with Alzheimer’s, notes Alzheimer’s expert Dr. Ted Huey, the director of the Memory and Aging Program at Butler Hospital in Providence. “That number is expected to double to nearly 14 million by 2040, with an estimated one million new cases each year by 2060,” he says.

Dr. Huey told Morse, “We have the first new disease modified medications in forever.  Really, the first ones that remove one of the key proteins that causes Alzheimer’s disease.”

Despite advances in treating Alzheimer’s, federal funding for research is being cut, which could hinder progress. “It would be a shame to cut it now because I think we’re really at a good place and we’re making some real advances,” says Huey.

“The survey showing that more Americans want to know if they have Alzheimer’s and that they are interested in taking a medication to slow the disease emphasizes the need for our important work. We need to educate more people about the 10 Signs of Alzheimer’s, when to take their memory concerns to a doctor and our support programs. This is an exciting time for treatment and we want people to know we are here for them,” says Donna McGowan, Executive Director of the Rhode Island chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. 

“Our survey makes it clear — most Americans want to take action if they experience cognitive problems,” said Alzheimer’s Association Edgerly. “With the rising prevalence of Alzheimer’s, it’s more important than ever that researchers, clinicians, health systems, public health officials and other stakeholders work together to ensure all Americans have access to timely and appropriate Alzheimer’s diagnosis, care and treatment,” she says.

The Alzheimer’s Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Its mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. For more info, visit alz.org or call 800.272.3900.
29, 2025

To download the 2025 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report, go to https://www.alz.org/getmedia/ef8f48f9-ad36-48ea-87f9-b74034635c1e/alzheimers-facts-and-figures.pdf.

Meeting the challenges of an aging farm workforce, in a bipartisan way

Published in RINewsToday on April 28, 2025

About 16 months ago, the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging Ranking Member Mike Braun (R-IN) released a report titled Feeding the Future, sounding the alarm about the growing challenges older farmers face and urging Congress and the Biden administration to secure the future of American agriculture. Now, Senator Rick Scott (R-FL), the current chair of the Senate Aging Committee, is continuing this effort with the release of a new report addressing the same issue.

On March 31, Scott unveiled his eight-page report, America’s Aging Farm Workforce: Why Vanishing Family Farms Are a Growing Threat to U.S. Food Security and Rural Communities. The report notes that one-third of farmers and ranchers are over the age of 65, with a median age of 58—making agriculture the oldest workforce in the nation. “We’re seeing fewer young people follow in their parents’ footsteps,” Scott said, warning that this trend threatens America’s food security and the vitality of rural communities.

Zippy Duvall, President of the American Farm Bureau Federation, has also raised concerns. “As many farmers and ranchers reach retirement age, they face uncertainty over the future of their farms, which in many cases have been in the family for generations,” he said, pointing to high production costs, land competition, and declining profits as ongoing threats to sustainability.

“The data is clear—our farming population is aging rapidly, and without targeted action, we risk losing family farms and, with them, the backbone of rural America and our national food supply,” said Terry Kippley, President & CEO of the Council of Producers & Distributors of Agrotechnology (CPDA). Kippley pledged to work with Senator Scott to develop long-term solutions that support the next generation of farmers, reduce regulatory burdens, and ensure access to modern tools and technologies.
Troubling statistics

The Senate Aging Committee’s report outlines serious demographic challenges. Currently, aging farmers and ranchers control 40% of America’s farmland. Over the next two decades, approximately 350 million acres are expected to change hands, raising concerns about consolidation of family farms—particularly by foreign or adversarial entities.

At the same time, the number of farms is shrinking. The U.S. has lost 200,000 farms since 2007, and 40 million acres have been converted to non-agricultural use. While over 800 million acres of land are currently farmable, an annual loss of 1.9 million acres poses a significant threat to the country’s food production capacity.

Barriers like high operating costs, limited land access, and a lack of healthcare or retirement benefits discourage young people from entering the profession. Over 80% of farmers must work a second job just to stay financially stable. Buying or expanding farmland is also increasingly expensive – averaging $4,000 per acre, a 7.4% increase since 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

In addition, inflation and regulatory challenges are placing further economic strain on farmers. The Senate report recommends reducing these pressures through economic reforms, promoting innovation, simplifying regulations, and encouraging fair market competition to support American agriculture.

Policy suggestions include reducing inflation and energy costs, repealing the federal estate tax, investing in agricultural R&D (particularly in areas like organic farming and agri-tourism), and leveraging artificial intelligence for production and marketing. The report also urges Congress to strengthen protections against foreign land acquisitions and to pass legislation such as the Regulatory Decimation Act and the REINS Act to limit burdensome rules.

The report emphasizes that a new Farm Bill must genuinely support farmers and view food security as part of national security. To that end, it also calls for tariffs, when necessary, to counteract foreign subsidies that harm American producers.

Bipartisan push to attract a new generation of farmers

In the early days of the 119th Congress, on April 1, 2025, a group of bipartisan House lawmakers—Representatives Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), Zach Nunn (R-IA), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Don Davis (D-NC), Eric Sorenson (D-IL), Jill Tokuda (D-HI), and Gabe Vasquez (D-NM)—introduced the New Producer Economic Security Act (H.R. 2536). A companion bill (S.1237) was introduced in the Senate by Senator Tina Smith (D-MN).

H.R. 2536 was referred to the House Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit, while S.1237 was sent to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

The proposed legislation would establish a pilot program within the Farm Service Agency (FSA) aimed at helping new and beginning farmers overcome the biggest barriers to entry: access to land, capital, and markets. The goal is to strengthen the farm workforce and secure the U.S. food system.

“If we’re going to revitalize American agriculture, we must ensure young farmers have the tools to succeed,” said Rep. Budzinski. “This bill addresses the biggest challenges they face—access to land, markets, and capital.”


“In Iowa, agriculture is our backbone,” added Rep. Nunn. “Young Americans who are willing to feed and fuel our country deserve every form of support we can offer.”

“The average producer in the U.S. is 58, and in Minnesota, it’s 57,” noted Sen. Smith. “Investing in the next generation of farmers is essential to food security and the economic strength of rural America.”

Jordan Treakle, Policy and Programs Director of the National Family Farm Coalition echoed these sentiments. “This bill supports new and beginning family farmers at a time when land consolidation is increasing. Keeping farmland in the hands of those who feed our communities is critical for a resilient food system,” he said.

A joint statement introducing the legislation emphasized that with nearly half of U.S. farmland expected to change ownership in the coming decades, this is a timely opportunity to create policies that ensure land stays accessible and productive.

Rhode Island

According to the 2024 Census of Agriculture, Rhode Island is home to 1,938 farmers and ranchers. Of these, 34% are age 65 or older, which amounts to approximately 659 individuals. Furthermore, about 90% of Rhode Island’s senior farmers do not have a younger farm operator (under age 45) working with them, raising concerns about farm succession. This issue is highlighted in the February 2016 report “Keeping Farmers on the Land,” issued by the American Farmland Trust. These concerning statistics should serve as a call to action for Rhode Island’s Congressional Delegation to address the issue by becoming cosponsors of the New Producer Economic Security Act.

Key provisions of the Bill

The House and Senate versions of the New Producer Economic Security Act would:

• Provide grants and cooperative agreements to state and tribal governments, non-profit organizations, community lenders, farmer cooperatives, and other eligible groups to improve access to land, capital, and markets.
• Offer funding for direct support services to help young farmers acquire land, pay closing costs and down payments, build infrastructure, and receive technical assistance and training.
• Prioritize projects that facilitate farmland transition from older to younger producers, include collaborative partnerships, or offer direct financial support to new producers.
• Establish a stakeholder advisory committee to help evaluate applications and ensure the program meets the real needs of farmers and ranchers.

Since becoming a permanent committee in 1977, the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging has consistently worked in a bipartisan manner, regardless of which party held the majority. In light of Chairman Scott’s report urging action on the aging farm workforce, he and Ranking Member Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) should consider co-sponsoring S.2536—or working together to craft a bipartisan proposal to be introduced and referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, or the appropriate committee.

Now is the time for Democrats and Republicans to set aside political differences and come together to address the challenges posed by America’s aging farm workforce—and the serious threat this poses to our food security.

On January 15, 2025, during his opening statement at the first Senate Aging Committee hearing of the 119th Congress, Chairman Scott said: “I believe we have a significant opportunity in this Committee to work in a bipartisan manner to support and improve the lives of America’s current senior citizens and to create change that will enhance both the lifespan and health span of future generations.” This includes improving the lives of America’s older farmers and ranchers.

The New Producer Economic Security Act is endorsed by the National Young Farmers Coalition, Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA, American Farmland Trust, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, and Rural Coalition.

To download Chairman Scott’s report, America’s Aging Farm Workforce: Why Vanishing Family Farms Are a Growing Threat to U.S. Food Security and Rural Communities.” go to https://www.aging.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/2025_aging_farm_workforce_report.pdf.

How religious are we? National survey results

Published in RINewsToday.com on April 21, 2025

According to an April 17 article in the National Catholic Register (NCR), outreach, Eucharistic revival, immigration—and perhaps even the Holy Spirit—are sparking spiritual renewal, not just in the United States, but also abroad.

NCR reports that France expects a surge in adult baptisms this year, estimated at more than 10,000. Meanwhile, England is witnessing a quiet Catholic revival, primarily driven by young male converts.

Closer to home, the Rhode Island Catholic, the newspaper of the Diocese of Providence, reported in its latest issue that “Boston Archbishop Richard G. Henning, S.T.D., was greeted by one of the largest crowds in years for a Chrismas Mass at the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul. The church was packed with worshippers from across the diocese, and Archbishop Henning described being buoyed by the joyful spirit that began for him during his time as shepherd of the Diocese of Providence.”

What does research say about America’s Catholics?

According to a March 4, 2025 article “10 Facts About U.S. Catholics,” posted on the Pew Research Center’s (PRS) website, around 20% of U.S. adults identify as Catholic, translating to approximately 53 million Catholic adults nationwide.

Here are a few facts detailed in the article…

The share of Hispanic Catholics continues to rise. While since the year 2007, the percentage of white Catholics has dropped by 10 percentage points, the share of Hispanic Catholics has increased by 7 percentage points. In fact, 29% of U.S. Catholics are immigrants, or children of immigrants.

Demographically, Catholics tend to skew older: nearly 58% are age 50 or older. Regionally, 29% reside in the South, 26% in the Northeast, 25% in the West, and 20% in the Midwest.

In terms of education, 35% of U.S. Catholics are college graduates, while 27% have some college experience but no degree, and 38% have a high school diploma or less. Religiously, about three-in-ten Catholics attend Mass weekly or more, while 51% pray daily, and 44% say religion is very important in their lives.

Taking a look at America’s religious communities

PRS’s latest 393 page RLS report, “Decline of Christianity in the U.S. Has Slowed, May Have Leveled Off”, released on Feb. 26, 2025, suggests that the steady decline in Christian affiliation may be stabilizing. As of 2025, 62% of U.S. adults identify as Christian—a 9-point drop since 2014 and 16 points down from 2007—but that figure has held relatively stable between 60% and 64% over the past five years.

This latest RLS is the third major national study conducted by PRC over the past 17 years, each surveying around 36,908 randomly selected respondents. Since the U.S. Census Bureau does not collect religious data, the PRC’s work represents the largest ongoing national survey on religion and spirituality, providing insights into all 50 states, D.C., and 34 of the largest metropolitan areas.

The report, released February 26, 2025, also highlights trends in other faiths. While still in the single digits, the number of Americans identifying with non-Christian religions is growing:

  • 1.7% are Jewish
  • 1.2% are Muslim
  • 1.1% are Buddhist
  • 0.9% are Hindu

Meanwhile, 29% of Americans are religiously unaffiliated, identifying as atheists, agnostics, or “nothing in particular.” This group—often called the NONES — has grown rapidly in previous decades but appears to be plateauing.

Despite this shift, spiritual belief remains widespread:

  • 86% believe in a soul or spirit
  • 83% believe in God or a universal spirit
  • 79% believe in something spiritual beyond the natural world
  • 70% believe in an afterlife (heaven, hell, or both)
  • 92% hold at least one of these spiritual beliefs

Still, the PRC’s RLS warns that signs point to potential future declines in religious affiliation, especially among younger Americans. The study found that only 46% of adults aged 18–24 identify as Christian, compared to 80% of those aged 74 and older. Younger adults are also less likely to pray daily (27% vs. 58%), less likely to attend monthly religious services (25% vs. 49%), and more likely to be religiously unaffiliated (43% vs. 13%).

In the Pew Research study of 2015, it was found, as it hhas been for many years, that Rhode Island is far-and-away the most Catholic state in the country, with 42 percent of Rhode Islanders consider themselves Catholic. Three states are tied for second place at 34 percent: Massachusetts, New Jersey and New Mexico.

Religion and Age

Older Americans continue to form the majority of many Christian denominations:

  • 64% of mainline Protestants
  • 57% of Catholics
  • 54% of evangelicals
    are age 50 or older.

By contrast, Muslims are among the youngest religious groups in the U.S., with three-quarters under the age of 50, and one-third younger than 30.

Among the religiously unaffiliated, about 70% are under 50, compared to 44% among the religiously affiliated, says the RLS.

The median age of U.S. Christians has climbed from 46 in 2007 to 55 in 2024, a trend mirrored across nearly all Christian subgroups. In contrast, the median age of the religiously unaffiliated and those in non-Christian religions has remained relatively stable since 2007.

When respondents were asked how their personal religiousness had changed over their lifetime:

  • 44% reported no significant change,
  • 29% said they had become less religious,
  • 28% said they had become more religious.

The 2023–2024 RLS (The Religious Landscape Study) was conducted in English and Spanish from July 17, 2023, to March 4, 2024, among a nationally representative sample of 36,908 respondents. The survey has a margin of error of ±0.8 percentage points and a response rate of 20%.

This research was made possible through support from The Pew Charitable Trusts, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc., Templeton Religion Trust, The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, and the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust.

To read the full report, visit: https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2025/02/PR_2025.02.26_religious-landscape-study_report.pdf.