Alzheimer's challenge.

A month ago, I poked a little fun at consultants who are trying to scare us about the Next Huge Business Problem. The alleged huge problem is the looming retirement of baby boomers. Apparently, boomers are expected to retire en masse, by the board room, which will quickly sap businesses all across the fruited plain of their most experienced managers.

But I suggested that instead of trying to convince us to hire them to help us cope with the coming exodus of baby boomers, consultants should do the opposite. They should come up with creative ways to help businesses get shed of their baby boomers. I mean, I don't know many boomers who plan to retire at 65; most I know figure they face many active years and aren't even thinking of heading out to pasture.

The biggest driver: Americans' improving health. The rate of death from cancer and heart disease are down, and life spans have lengthened and may grow more as boomers age. So, a lot of boomers I know figure they'll toil away for at least a few years on the other side of 65.

However, there is at least one growing health problem with an aging workforce: Alzheimer's disease. This came to mind because of the upcoming Memory Walk in Los Angeles to benefit Alzheimer's research. For whatever reason--it may be improved detection--Alzheimer's is up 220 percent ill Los Angeles over just the last 10 years, said Bonnie Winings, whose father died of the disease a year ago and who is heading up the PR effort lot Memory Walk. She said that in L.A. County, one in eight persons over age 65 and half of those over 85 are diagnosed with the diseased.

The big problem for employers, of course, is that as the workforce grows older with the aging boomers, a much greater proportion of workers will get diagnosed with Alzheimer's. That not only means more workers will be unable to work, but it will cause health care insurance problems for businesses. What's more, workers who are not diagnosed with Alzheimer's but whose family members are, will be terribly distracted and financially stressed.

Alzheimer's is a problem that will grow and may well loom as a far bigger problem for employers than the supposed coming wave of early retirements of boomers.

By the way, if you're interested in the Memory Walk, which will be Sunday, Nov. 4, and held downtown for the first time, go to www.alzla.com.

Charles Crumpley is editor of the Business Journal. He can be reached at [e-mail].