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Dementia is a general term used to describe a loss of memory, language, problem-solving and other thinking abilities that are severe enough to interfere with daily life. It is one of the major causes of disability and dependency among older people worldwide. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) around 50 million people have dementia worldwide, and there are nearly 10 million new cases every year. Concerningly, a new study has warned that the number of people with dementia will nearly triple to more than 152 million by 2050.
The study, led by researchers at the University of Washington School of Medicine, estimated global dementia prevalence based on anticipated trends in smoking, high body mass index (BMI) and high fasting plasma glucose. The researchers predicted an increase of 6.8 million dementia cases globally between 2019 and 2050 due specifically to expected changes in these risk factors. At the same time, they are also expecting some changes in education levels, which could lead to a decline in dementia prevalence of 6.2 million individuals globally between 2019 and 2050. The findings were presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference, (AAIC) 2021 in Denver.
Age is the strongest known risk factor for dementia and thus it mainly affects older people. But dementia is not a normal part of ageing. Young onset dementia (or onset of symptoms before the age of 65 years) accounts for up to 9% of dementia cases, according to the WHO. Dementia can result from a variety of diseases and injuries that primarily or secondarily affect the brain, such as Alzheimer's disease or stroke.
"Improvements in lifestyle in adults in developed countries and other places -- including increasing access to education and greater attention to heart health issues -- have reduced incidence in recent years, but total numbers with dementia are still going up because of the ageing of the population," Alzheimer's Association chief science officer Maria C. Carrillo said, as quoted by IANS.
In addition, risk factors for dementia in younger people including obesity, diabetes and sedentary lifestyles are rising quickly, she noted.
Emma Nichols, a researcher with the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington School of Medicine, and colleagues used data from the Global Burden of Disease study (collected between 1999 and 2019) to study the global dementia prevalence. They found that each year, an estimated 10 in every 100,000 individuals develop dementia with early onset (prior to age 65). This means 350,000 new cases of early onset dementia per year, globally.
They predicted that dementia would increase from an estimated 57.4 (50.4 to 65.1) million cases globally in 2019 to an estimated 152.8 (130.8 to 175.6) million cases in 2050. The increase is projected to be highest in eastern sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa, and the Middle East.
As there are no effective treatments to stop, slow or prevent Alzheimer's and all dementia, this number will grow beyond 2050, Carrillo said.
Along with therapeutics, she emphasized the need to uncover culturally-tailored interventions that reduce dementia risk through lifestyle factors like education, diet and exercise
Citing studies, the WHO stated that people can reduce their risk of dementia by getting regular exercise, not smoking, avoiding harmful use of alcohol, controlling their weight, eating a healthy diet, and maintaining healthy blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
Additional risk factors for dementia include depression, low educational attainment, social isolation, and cognitive inactivity. These areas need attention too to reduce the risk of dementia.