Unless a cure is found, Alzheimer's Disease is on track to become a nationwide epidemic in the not-too-distant future. Age is the biggest risk factor, and a large group of Americans is getting older--we call them the Baby Boomers. 1 in 8 will develop Alzheimer's in the next 5 years.

"He recognized me, however, he did not recognize my brothers," says Pat Wilson.

The Madison woman says she will never forget her father's battle with Alzheimer's.

"I know the first time he had trouble tying his shoes, I couldn't believe what was happening," she says.

Pat's dad lived with the disease for nearly eight years, "You're like, why are they acting like this? Why is he doing this?"

"We're still at that fundamental level at how this thing works," says Sterling Johnson, an Assistant Professor in the UW Medical School.

Johnson says despite medical advances, Alzheimer's disease largely remains a mystery.

"It's frustrating that we don't have any effective treatments or cures at this point," says Johnson.

A new report by the Alzheimer's Association says 5-million people, nationwide, now have the disease. By 2030 the number is expected to jump to 8-million, and by 2050 it's likely to double to 16-million cases.

"We need more support for research and programs and services to help people with Alzheimer's. This is really a growing epidemic," says Miriam Boegel.

She is the development director for the local Alzheimer's Association, serving 17-thousand people in nine counties.

The organization's leader is currently in Washington D.C. asking Congress for additional funding.

"We currently now have about 750-million dollars in Alzheimer's research. We want that number to be at least 1-billion," says Boegel.

"I hope it does raise some eyebrows in Congress. We need to have more federal funding for this," says Johnson.

As for Pat, soon after her father's death, she started working for the Alzheimer's Association. Knowing what she now knows, Pat understands the odds of developing the disease herself.

"The chances are, that in our family, one of us probably will get it," says Pat.

This is not only a health issue, but a financial one, as well. On average, it costs nearly 175-thousand dollars to care for an Alzheimer's patient.

Check out "News Links" for additional information on the Alzheimer's Association.