New
figures show an estimated 44 million people worldwide now have dementia, up
from 35 million in 2010, and that number will reach 76 million in 2030, and 135
million by 2050.
The new
estimates are a "staggering" increase of 17% over figures published
in 2009, Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI) said in a Policy Brief for
heads of government released this week, ahead of the first G8 Dementia Summit,
which will take place in London, United Kingdom, on December 11.
The
current burden and future impact of the dementia epidemic have been
"underestimated, particularly for the Asia East and Sub-Saharan African
regions," the brief says. It notes that the global burden will soon shift
to poorer countries. By 2050, 71% of all people with dementia will live in low
or middle income countries, the ADI predicts.
"At
the eve of the G8 Dementia Summit in London, UK, it is not just the G8
countries, but all nations, that must commit to a sustained increase in
dementia research," ADI Executive Director, Marc Wortmann said in a
statement.
"The
governments of the world's richest nations are focusing today upon dementia.
This is a global problem that is, increasingly, impacting on developing countries
with limited resources and little time to develop comprehensive systems of
social protection, health and social care," added Martin Prince, from
King's College London and Author of the Policy Brief.
Most
Governments "Woefully Unprepared"
"While
we all hope for advances in treatment that could blunt the impact of the coming
epidemic, we need to agree now to work together to close the diagnosis and
treatment gap. Nobody should be left without access to support and care,"
Prince said.
As
reported previously by Medscape Medical News, the World Alzheimer's Report 2011
put the economic cost of dementia at $604 billion annually, or 1% of global
gross domestic product. These costs will escalate at least proportionally with
numbers affected, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, the ADI
warns in the Policy Brief.
How to
provide long-term care for patients with dementia must be a public health
priority, the ADI says. The World Alzheimer's Report 2013 called on governments
around the world to make dementia caregiving a priority by implementing
national plans and by initiating urgent national debates on this issue.
However,
most governments are "woefully unprepared" for the dementia epidemic,
the Brief warns. To date, only 13 of 193 World Health Organization countries
have national dementia plans in place.
The US
National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease announced in 2012 calls on the
government and private sector to intensify efforts to treat or prevent
Alzheimer's and related dementias and to improve care and services.
However,
most governments are "woefully unprepared" for the dementia epidemic,
the Brief warns. To date, only 13 of 193 World Health Organization countries
have national dementia plans in place.
The US
National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease announced in 2012 calls on the
government and private sector to intensify efforts to treat or prevent
Alzheimer's and related dementias and to improve care and services.
This
Policy Brief emphasizes that dementia is a "global epidemic, which demands
a global solution," Matthew Baumgart, senior director of public policy at
the Alzheimer's Association, which is a member of ADI, told Medscape Medical
News.
"However,
Alzheimer's disease and dementia are in a similar place to HIV and cancer 20 to
30 years ago, when fear, ignorance and stigma prevailed. But history shows
major diseases can be made manageable, even preventable, with sufficient
political will and research investment," Baumgart said. "We stopped
polio. We've found ways to treat heart disease, and can now prevent, treat, and
even cure many kinds of cancer."
"The
G8 Dementia Summit," he added, "is an auspicious opportunity to make
Alzheimer's and dementia research a global priority, and to promote increased
global cooperation and coordination. Collaboration is needed between countries,
companies, advocacy groups, people with dementia and their families, and the
public to demand and discover answers to this monumental problem. By
accelerating these alliances, the G8 summit has the potential to be a key
milestone and turning point in the fight against Alzheimer's disease and
dementia."
According
to the ADI, "best estimates" are that 10% of dementia cases may be
avoided by improvements in public health. "Campaigns that target smoking,
under activity, obesity, hypertension and diabetes should be prioritized as
well as education and other cognitive enhancement," the brief advises.
(Source: Medscape Medical News, 6 December 2013)
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