Those Affected By Alzheimer’s, Dementia, To Increase Exponentially In Coming Years

After a 10 percent increase in Alzheimer’s projected for this year from 2005 – 35.6 million people suffering globally – the incidence of dementia will continue to almost double every 20 years, according to the World Alzheimer Report from Alzheimer’s Disease International.

That means by 2050, over 115 million people worldwide will have some form of dementia.

According to the report, prevalence has increased fastest in low- and middle-income countries, where by this year, they account for more than half of all dementia cases (57.7 percent).

Researchers predict that over the next 20 years, some places like North Africa or the Middle East will see a 125 percent increase in their dementia cases.

Dr. Daisy Acosta, Alzheimer’s Disease International Chair, believes the increasing number of people with dementia correlates with our increasing life expectancy.

Countries like France, the United Kingdom, and Australia have orchestrated national plans for research and treatment. The United States has not.

Harry Johns, chief executive officer of the Alzheimer’s Association, believes the U.S.’s lack of a plan is contributing to lower funding and investment research in the area of Alzheimer’s, as opposed to other chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and HIV/AIDS.

"This study shows that aging populations, which were once only the problem of the developed countries like the Unites States, Japan, and Europe, are also rapidly rising in Asia and Latin America," said Greg M. Cole, associate director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at the David Geffen School of Medicine of UCLA. "It calls for efforts to find new treatments to care for the tens of millions of new victims in the developing countries and to help their overburdened caregivers."

In fact, the report also noted that up to a staggering 75 percent of caregivers have significant psychological illness resulting from caregiving, with 15 percent to 32 percent suffering from major depression.

The global cost of Alzheimer’s and dementia care is $315 billion every year. However, Acosta noted, "suffering is not something you can calculate in money."

It is agreed that a worldwide effort must be made to cope with this frightening trend in elderly health.

Address: Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601-7633; (312) 335-8700, www.alz.org/index.asp.