Dementia Should Be a Global Priority

The number of people with dementia will increase from 44 million people to 135 million by 2050, according to new estimates from Alzheimer’s Disease International. The report cites new data from Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa to predict a shift in worldwide distribution of dementia cases. By 2050, 71% of people living with dementia will be located in low- and middle-income countries. “This is a global problem that is, increasingly, impacting on developing countries with limited resources and little time to develop comprehensive systems of social protection, health and social care," wrote Martin Prince of King's College London, author of the policy brief presented ahead of the G8 Dementia Summit to be held in London on Wednesday. Estimates show that as much as 10% of dementia cases might be avoided by the implementation of public health campaigns focusing on smoking secession, obesity, and diabetes. Only 13 of the 193 World Health Organization countries have national dementia plans, the researchers noted, stressing that “research must be a global priority if we are to improve the quality and coverage of care, find treatments that alter the course of the disease and identify more options for prevention.” –Michael Potts Alzheimer’s Disease International. Policy Brief for Heads of Government: The Global Impact of Dementia 2013–2050. December 6, 2013. http://www.alz.co.uk/research/G8-policy-brief