Summary
The bottom line is that there are many, many drugs in development for the treatment of Alzheimer's (more than the speaker quoted in the article estimates) and, therefore, it is likely that some will be on the market in 5-10 years. However, they are not necessarily going to be cures or totally preventive. Some will alleviate symptoms, like the drugs currently on the market. Others may be more---or less--effective in people who carry certain genes related to Alzheimer's. The concept of a vaccine captures the public's hopes but is currently in testing in people who already have Alzheimer's. The testing, or possible approvable use, in people who have not developed Alzheimer's is more in the future. But we will get there. This is a scientifically very active field.
Analysis
The pharmaceutical companies are well aware of the demographics of the future and several are banking on the development of a drug for Alzheimer's. Not all drugs in development, of course, will work, so those companies who are hanging their hats on a particular drug may be in financial crisis or collapse if their drug is one of the failures.
