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Science Doubling of dementia due in two decades
Science Doubling of dementia due in two decades | Doubling of dementia due in two decades |
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| by William Atkins | |
| Tuesday, 22 September 2009 | |
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Science DiscussionsIn addition, according to the Monday, September 21, 2009 Guardian.co.uk article “Dementia cases to double in next 20 years, say researchers,” by 2050, the number of cases of dementia will continue to dramatically increase, totally over 115 million by that year. Dr. Martin Prince, professor of epidemiological psychiatry from the Institute of Psychiatry (King’s College London), led the study. The conclusion of the study was published by the Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI), In a related article in December 2008, ADI states, “The prevalence of dementia worldwide” (pdf file) states, “Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) estimates that there are currently 30 million people with dementia in the world, with 4.6 million new cases annually (one new case every 7 seconds)." "The number of people affected will be over 100 million by 2050. These estimates were derived from detailed population-based studies of the prevalence of dementia in different world regions.” The ADI asks, "... the World Health Organisation [WHO] to make dementia a world health priority in the hope that this will spur countries to produce national plans for coping with the disease and encourage research into treatments.” Dr. Prince, who is also the director of the Centre for Public Mental Health (at the Institute of Psychiatry in London), states that governments should do more to alleviate the burden of caregivers, what he calls “carers.” He states, "Caring is a full-time job – an average of around eight hours per day for a relative with moderate to severe dementia…. In all parts of the world, carers – who are most commonly female and the spouses or children of the persons with dementia – often experience high levels of strain.” Prince adds, “Studies reviewed in the new report suggest that half to three-quarters of carers have significant psychological illness, while up to a third have clinical depression." Page two adds commentary from the Alzheimer's Society on the report from the ADI. |
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