Dementia cases to Triple by 2050

Cases of dementia are anticipated to rise significantly in the coming decades due to improvements in life expectancy and medical care in poorer countries, warns the World Health Organisation (WHO). In 2010, approximately 35.6 million people were living with dementia, a figure expected to double to 65.7 million by 2030 and triple to 115.4 million by 2050, according to the United Nations health agency in Geneva, Switzerland.

“The numbers are already large and are increasing rather rapidly,” notes Dr Shekhar Saxena, head of WHO’s mental health division. The burden falls heavily on relatives, who currently bear the estimated annual cost of £380 billion. WHO’s first substantial report on the issue indicates that the financial burden is expected to escalate even more rapidly than the number of cases.

“The catastrophic cost drives millions of households below the poverty line,” warns Margaret Chan, WHO’s director-general. Dementia primarily affects older individuals, with around 70% of cases believed to be caused by Alzheimer’s. While dementia has become a major public health issue in wealthy countries in recent decades, WHO emphasizes the need for increased public awareness and better support programs worldwide, especially as populations in poor and middle-income countries are projected to grow and age rapidly in the coming decades.

The share of dementia cases in poor and middle-income countries is expected to increase from just under 60% today to over 70% by 2050. WHO highlights that only eight countries, including Britain, France, and Japan, have national programs to address dementia, with some others, such as the United States, having plans at the state level.

While the report refrains from making specific recommendations to policymakers, it strongly urges them to address the challenges of dementia as soon as possible to cope with the escalating global issue.

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