The Bad News: Dementia Cases Expected to Triple Worldwide by 2050

Across the globe, more than 35 million people are living with dementia, according to recent World Health Organization (WHO) estimates. This number is expected to more than triple to reach 115 million by 2050 in the wake of world population aging. Fueled by declines in fertility and increases in life expectancy, the share of the world's population ages 65 and older is on track to jump from 8 percent today to nearly 17 percent in 2050, according to new U.S. Census Bureau population projections. By 2050, the population of every world region except Africa will resemble Europe's today, with elderly ages 65 and older outnumbering children younger than 15, reported the Census Bureau. This shift toward an older population brings with it changes in disease patterns: the share of deaths from infectious diseases of childhood are decreasing while the share from non-communicable diseases of adulthood, including dementia, are on the rise. Treating and caring for people with dementia currently costs more than $600 billion per year worldwide (1 percent of world GDP), according to WHO. This estimate includes the cost of providing health and social care, as well as the reduction or loss of income of people with dementia and their caregivers.
Source/more: Population Reference Bureau