10 Facts You Need to Know About Dementia

Dementia is an overwhelming disease that not only affects the person who has it, but also their caregivers and family members. We have compiled a list of 10 need-to-know facts about dementia – a disease that is set to jump to more than 75.6 million cases by 2030. 

1. Around the world, there will be 9.9 million new cases of dementia in 2015. That’s one new diagnosis every three seconds.
   
   
2. In 2015, there an estimated 46.8 million people around the world living with dementia. This number is expected to double every 20 years.
   
   
3. Much of the increase will take place in low and middle income countries. In 2015, 58% of all people with dementia live in low and middle income countries, rising to 63% in 2030 and 68% in 2050.
   
   
4. The total estimated worldwide cost of dementia in 2015 is US$818 billion. By 2018, dementia will become a trillion dollar disease, rising to US$2 trillion by 2030.
   
   
5. If global dementia care were a country, it would be the 18^th largest economy in the world, exceeding the market values of companies including Apple and Google.
   
   
6. This map shows the estimated number of people living with dementia in each world region in 2015.
   
   
   
   
7. Dementia is not a normal part of ageing. Although the disease affects many older people, it is a syndrome, usually of a chronic or progressive nature that affects memory, thinking, behaviour and the ability to perform everyday activities.
   
   
8. The early diagnosis of dementia can improve the quality of life of people with dementia and their families. Early diagnosis means that the treatment of behavioural and psychological symptoms can begin and information and long-term support can be provided to caregivers.
   
   
9. More awareness and advocacy efforts are needed. Improving the general public’s awareness and understanding of dementia is needed to decrease discrimination.
   
   
10. Dementia is an important public health priority. There are a number of actions that can be taken including:

• Promoting a dementia friendly society
• Making dementia a public health and social care priority everywhere
• Improving attitudes to, and understanding of, dementia
• Investing in health and social systems to improve care and services for people with dementia and their families/caregivers
• Increasing the research on dementia

Search for residential aged care in: