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Dementia cases expected to triple worldwide by 2050, study says

Posted April 23, 2012

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The number of people with dementia around the world is expected to increase to 115.4 million by 2050, more than triple the 35.6 million who now have the illness, a report says.

Dementia affects 58% of people who live in low- and middle-income countries, and that figure is expected to rise to more than 70% by 2050, said the report, issued April 11 by the World Health Organization and Alzheimer’s Disease International (link). Treating and caring for people with dementia costs $604 billion each year.

The report says national dementia programs should work to improve early diagnosis, raise public awareness and reduce stigma, and provide more support to caregivers. It recommends involving caregivers to help design programs. Training of health professionals should pay more attention to dementia and the skills needed to treat it, the report said.

Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2012/04/23/hlbf0423.htm.

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