Alzheimer's causes cognition 'to decline four times faster'

People with Alzheimer's disease experience cognitive decline four times faster than people without the condition, a new academic study has claimed.

Researchers at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago observed 1,168 older adults and found that cognition, or the 'process of thought', declined much more quickly in people with Alzheimer's disease.

The study is only the second of its kind ever conducted, with the findings not varying based on sex, race or age.

"Part of understanding this disease is carefully quantifying what the consequences are in a defined population," said report author Dr Robert Wilson.

This knowledge is especially important with the number of diagnosed cases of Alzheimer's disease expected to rise sharply by the middle of this century, Dr Wilson added.

According to the Alzheimer's Research Trust, there are 820,000 people in the UK living with dementia, with Alzheimer's disease accounting for two-thirds of cases amongst the elderly.

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