According to the 2015 World Alzheimer Report, the estimated cost of dementia worldwide is $118 billion dollars today. This can be better understood by a market analogy: If dementia were a country, it would hold the world’s 18th largest economy and its value would rival companies like Google ($368 billion) and Apple ($742 billion).
Learn about lifestyle changes that could lower your risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease
The report analyzed the prevalence, costs and trends of dementia
Published by the Alzheimer’s Disease International, the report was independently researched by King’s College of London and supported by Bupa. According to the report 46.8 million people are living with dementia worldwide, a number that could nearly triple (131.5 million) by 2050. Dementia is an umbrella term given for progressive neurodegenerative disorders that affect memory, thinking, behavior and emotion. The most common forms of dementia are Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia and Pick’s disease. It is estimated that 94% of the dementia population lives in low- and middle-income countries with lack of access to support systems.
Dementia has a staggering impact on the world population
The incidence of dementia is increasing every year: in fact, every 3 seconds, a new case of dementia shows up in the world. With the increasing proportion of aging population, this number is not expected to decline in the future. This and the overall increase in the life expectancy have made management of chronic illnesses like dementia untenable. Dementia has the highest impact on the quality of life of the people with the disease and their families. It requires intense and consistent care not often required by other diseases. The health and social costs of caring for dementia patients exceeds that of cancer, heart disease, and stroke combined.
What can be done to manage dementia better?
The report calls for the governments and the World Health Organization to implement a national dementia plan aimed at awareness measures and better diagnosis, preventive care, and treatment facilities. It also recommends increased research efforts with an emphasis on risk reduction. Moreover, more community-level efforts will eradicate the stigma associated with the disease and inculcate good nutrition and exercise habits to stave off the disease.
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Dementia to Become a Trillion Dollar Disease
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