Global Prevalence of Dementia Forecasted for 2050

FRIDAY, Jan. 7, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Globally, the number of people with dementia is expected to increase to approximately 152.8 million cases in 2050, according to a study published online Jan. 6 in The Lancet Public Health.

Emma Nichols, M.P.H., from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington in Seattle, and colleagues forecasted the prevalence of dementia in 2050, both globally and by country and region, and incorporated information on selected modifiable risk factors to improve forecasted estimates.

The researchers found that the number of people with dementia was estimated to increase from 57.4 million cases globally in 2019 to 152.8 million cases in 2050. The age-standardized both-sex prevalence remained stable between 2019 and 2050, despite large increases in the projected number of people living with dementia (global percentage change, 0.1 percent). In 2019, there were more women than men with dementia (female-to-male ratio, 1.69); this pattern was expected to continue to 2050 (female-to-male ratio, 1.67). Geographic heterogeneity was anticipated in the projected increases across countries and regions. Projected increases in cases were mainly attributed to population growth and aging.

“This information might be helpful for public health planning efforts, particularly as they relate to scaling up the availability of resources required to meet the needs of individuals with dementia and their caregivers,” the authors write.

Several authors disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical and other industries.

Abstract/Full Text

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