New HopeOn Horizon To Fight Disease Affecting The Elderly (NAPSA)—Americansare living longer than ever and as a result have more time to spend with family, to travel and to enjoylife. People born in 2005 will live nearly 78 years on average, the National Center for Health Statistics predicts. By comparison, in 1955, the average American was expected to live for only 69.6 years. Not only are seniors living longer, but America’s pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies are now working on over 2,000 new medicines to help them face the health challenges that arise from aging. According to a new report released by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), medicines, which offer great promise to treat and prevent diseases such as arthritis, cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease, are currently being tested in clinical trials or are awaiting final approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Topping the health challenges seniors confront today are heart Over 2,000 new medicines are currently being tested to help seniors face the health challengesthat arise from aging. betes, which affects 12.2 million Americans age 60 and older; 62 for eye disorders that contribute significantly to late-life disability; and 91 for Alzheimer’s disease, which could afflict 16 million peo- ple by 2050 without further advances in treatment or preven- tion. Other medicines target depression, osteoporosis, Parkinson’s disease, prostate disease, affects 67 percent of those 65 or older. Chronic lower respiratory bladder and kidney diseases, and other debilitating conditions. Among the many experimental therapies is a medicine that could potentially prevent or reverse the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. betes, and flu and pneumonia round out the list of severe chronic diseases that are the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America Web site at www.phrma.org. For addi- Among the new medicines now in development are 150 for dia- other health issues affecting the elderly, visit the National Institute on Aging at www.nia.nih.gov. disease, cancer and cerebrovascu- lar disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Pre- vention. Hypertension alone disease, Alzheimer’s disease, dia- leading causes of death in older Americans. For more information, visit the tional information on diseases and
