Alzheimer’s Trends Worldwide

Issued by Alzheimer’s Disease International (United Kingdom), “The Global Impact of Dementia 2013-2050” is a policy brief for that updates the organization’s prevalence figures published in 2009. The new estimates warn of an increase of 17% on the 2009 figures, with data showing that the number of people with dementia will increase to 135 million by 2050. The current economic cost of dementia is $604 billion annually (2010).  These costs will escalate at least proportionally with numbers affected, particularly in low and middle income countries.  The organization reports that “best estimates show that 10% of dementia cases may be avoided by improvements in public health. Campaigns that target smoking, underactivity, obesity, hypertension and diabetes should be prioritised as well as education and other cognitive enhancement.  Dementia must be declared a public health priority by initiating national debates regarding the future provision for long term care.”