Ageing in the Twenty-First Century: - HelpAge International

Dementia – a global concern
Dementia is the greatest cause of years lost due to
disability in developed countries and the second greatest
worldwide. The estimated prevalence of dementia in
persons over 60 ranges from 2.1 per cent in sub-Saharan
Africa to 8.5 per cent in Latin America. 131
Population ageing means that if this prevalence remains
constant, the number of people with dementia will
continue to grow, particularly among the “oldest-old”.
Countries in demographic transition will experience
the greatest growth (Figure 5).
The total number of people with dementia worldwide
in 2010 is estimated at 35.6 million and is projected to
nearly double every 20 years, to 65.7 million in 2030
and 115.4 million in 2050. The total number of new cases
of dementia each year worldwide is nearly 7.7 million,
equivalent to one new case every four seconds.
Dementia incurs major costs. The total estimated
worldwide costs of dementia in 2010 were US$604
billion. 132 In developed countries, informal care (45 per
cent) and formal social care (40 per cent) account for the
majority of costs, while the proportional contribution
of direct medical costs (15 per cent) is much lower.
In developing countries, direct social care costs are
5: Growth small, in and numbers informal of care people costs (unpaid with care dementia provided in by high-income International, and in their low- 2012 and report middle-income
Dementia: A Public
the family) predominate. However, changing population
demographics in many developing countries may lead
International conferences organized by Alzheimer’s
Disease International highlight the need to respond to growing
numbers of people with dementia.
to fewer family members being available to provide
this care in the coming decades. 133
The challenges to governments to respond to the
growing numbers of persons with dementia are
substantial. WHO and Alzheimer’s Disease
Health Priority, articulated the need for a broad public
health approach to improve the care and quality of
life of persons with dementia and family caregivers.
Alzheimer’s Disease International
Figure 5: Growth in numbers of people with dementia
in high-income and low- and middle-income countries
120 millions
100
80
60
40
Low- and middle-income Low- and countries middle-income countries
20
0
2010 2020 2030 2040 2050
High-income countries
High-income countries
Source: World Health Organization and
Alzheimer’s Source: Disease World International, Health Organization Dementia: and Alzheimer’s Disease
A Public Health International, Priority Dementia: (Geneva, A Public 2012). Health Priority (Geneva, 2012).
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