UNDATED (CBS) -- The Obama administration is developing the first National Alzheimer's Plan in hopes of developing effective ways to treat and prevent the disease by 2025.
The plan is also designed to offer better care for patients, experts are gathering in D.C. for a two day meeting.
The Alzheimers Association says the goal is realistic if the commitment is really there and the funding.
President Obama signed off on the Alzheimer's project last year and his committee of experts is now under deadline to finalize a strategy.
Over 5 million Americans suffer from Alzheimers, which gradually breaks down memory, thinking and behavior; but it's the only disease among the top killers for which there is no prevention or cure.
Without better treatment, doctors expect Alzheimers to grow dramatically as the population ages, possibly affecting 16 million Americans by the middle of the century. The government is hoping it can stop that trend before it happens.
The Alzheimers Association says it expects to see a final plan at some point this spring.