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Alzheimer's, Dementia Much More Common Than Thought: Report

The global picture of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia looks much worse than generally reported after experts raised their estimates of worldwide cases by 10% from prior predictions to more than 35 million next year.

The 2009 World Alzheimer's Report, delivered by Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI), also grimly reported that while the projections for 2010 have been underestimated, dementia prevalence will nearly double every 20 years, to 65.7 million in 2030 and 115.4 million in 2050. 

 

For 2010, the 10% increase compares with a 2005 report in the British medical journal The Lancet which carried a lower figure typically used until now.

 

According to researchers, the increases in global dementia prevalence were driven primarily by new data from low and middle income countries. Estimates for three regions are higher -- Western Europe (7.29% vs. 5.92%), South Asia (5.65% vs. 3.40%) and Latin America (8.50% vs. 7.25%); East Asia is lower (4.98% vs. 6.46%) and North America numbers effectively do not change from ongoing estimates of 5.5 million cases today. 

 

The researchers found that 57.7% of people with dementia in 2010 live in low and middle income countries, rising to 70.5% by 2050. In addition, proportionate increases over the next 20 years in the number of people with dementia will be steeper in low and middle compared with high income countries. 

 

"The information in the 2009 World Alzheimer's Report makes it clear that the crisis of dementia and Alzheimer's cannot be ignored," said Marc Wortmann, ADI's executive director. "Unchecked, Alzheimer's will impose enormous burdens on individuals, families, health care infrastructures, and global economy." 

 

"There is hope in taking action by improving and funding dementia care and services, and increasing investment in research," Wortmann said. "Australia, France, Korea and the UK have developed national Alzheimer's action plans, and several more are currently in development. We strongly encourage other countries to follow their example and make Alzheimer's a priority." 

 

The report also focuses on the impact of dementia. Dementia has physical, psychological and economic impact not only the person with the disease, but also for family and friends who act as caregivers, healthcare systems, and society. For example, statistics cited in the new report suggest that 40%-75% of caregivers have significant psychological illness as a result of their caregiving, and 15%-32% have depression. 

 

The report also outlines challenges faced by governments and healthcare systems worldwide and offers eight global recommendations based on report findings. 

 

The full 2009 World Alzheimer's Report, including the methodology used to prepare it, can be found at www.alz.co.uk/worldreport. 

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View The Caregiver's Hotline in which this article first appeared

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