New data show that Alzheimer’s disease is going to be a greater epidemic worldwide than previously thought. A new report suggests a 17% increase in the number of people living with dementia, compared to original Alzheimer’s Disease International estimates from the 2009 World Alzheimer’s Report.
The Global Impact of Dementia 2013-2050 policy brief released ahead of the G8 Dementia Summit in London Dec. 11 reveals that the number of people living with dementia worldwide in 2013 is now estimated at 44 million, reaching 76 million in 2030 and 135 million by 2050. The U.K.-based group’s 2010 estimate of Alzheimer’s worldwide was 35 million.
The brief also predicts a shift in the distribution of the global burden of dementia, saying it will shift from the strong visible trends previously seen in high-income countries. By 2050, it’s expected that 71% of people with dementia will live in low- and middle-income countries
The World Alzheimer Report 2013 Journey of Caring: An analysis of long-term care for dementia says that the system of informal care by family, friends and community will require “much greater” support.
Worldwide, 13% of people age 60 and over require long-term care, it revealed. Additionally, between 2010 and 2050, the total number of older people with care needs will almost triple from 101 million to 277 million.
News story from: Assisted Living Federation of America (www.alfa.org)
