The challenges include lack of funding and problems with diagnosing Alzheimer’s.

An estimated 5.4 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s now, and that number is expected to grow to 16 million by the year 2050, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Because of this looming health crisis, President Obama signed into law the National Alzheimer’s Project Act on Jan. 4, with the aim of creating a national strategic plan to address what the Alzheimer’s Association described as an “escalating crisis.”

The Alzheimer’s Association’s report, “Alzheimer’s from the Frontlines: Challenges a National Alzheimer’s Plan Must Address,” was produced to help the government develop its strategy.

Findings of the report were based on input from 43,000 people in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C.

In all, the Alzheimer’s Association hosted 132 public input sessions nationwide, involving people with Alzheimer’s, caregivers, researchers, community leaders, and health care professionals.

“We want to make sure the administration is aware of the challenges that emerged, that we heard frequently, during the public input process,” Alzheimer’s Association spokeswoman Toni Williams tells WebMD. “We thought it would be a good idea to open it up to the public. We are hoping this helps to inform the advisory council and Secretary [Kathleen] Sebelius [of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services] in formulating a plan.”