Study: 35 Million Living with Dementia

In-Depth Analysis Predicts Number of People Suffering Brain-Destroying Illnesses Could Double Every 20 Years

(AP)  More than 35 million people around the world are living with Alzheimer's disease or other types of dementia, says the most in-depth attempt yet to assess the brain-destroying illness - and it's an ominous forecast as the population grays.

The new count is about 10 percent higher than what scientists had predicted just a few years ago, because earlier research underestimated Alzheimer's growing impact in developing countries.

Barring a medical breakthrough, the World Alzheimer Report projects dementia will nearly double every 20 years. By 2050, it will affect a staggering 115.4 million people, the report concludes.

"We are facing an emergency," said Dr. Daisy Acosta, who heads Alzheimer's Disease International, which released the report Monday.

The U.S. and other developed countries long have been bracing for Alzheimer's to skyrocket. But the report aims to raise awareness of the threat in poorer countries, where finally people are living long enough to face what is mostly a disease of the 65-and-older population.

While age is the biggest driver of Alzheimer's, some of the same factors that trigger heart disease - obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes - seem to increase the risk of dementia, too. Those are problems also on the rise in many developing countries.

In poorer countries, "dementia is a hidden issue," Acosta said, and that's complicating efforts to improve earlier diagnosis. "You're not supposed to talk about it."

For example, the report notes that in India, such terms such as "tired brain" or "weak brain" are used for Alzheimer's symptoms amid widespread belief that dementia is a normal part of aging - when it's not.

That mistake isn't confined to the developing world. Even in Britain, the report found, just over half of the families caring for someone with dementia believed the same thing.

The new study updates global figures last reported in 2005, when British researchers estimated that more than 24 million people were living with dementia. Using that forecast, scientists had expected about 31 million people would be struggling with dementia by 2010.

But since 2005, a flurry of research on Alzheimer's in developing countries has been published, leading Alzheimer's Disease International - a nonprofit federation of more than 70 national groups - to ask those scientists to re-evaluate. After analyzing dozens of studies, the scientists projected 35.6 million cases of dementia worldwide by 2010.

That includes nearly 7 million people in Western Europe, nearly 7 million in South and Southeast Asia, about 5.5 million in China and East Asia and about 3 million in Latin America.

The report puts North America's total at 4.4 million, although the Alzheimer's Association of the U.S. uses a less conservative count to say more than 5 million people in this country alone are affected. The disease afflicts one in eight people 65 and older, and nearly one in two people over 85.

The report forecasts a more than doubling of dementia cases in parts of Asia and Latin America over the next 20 years, compared with a 40 percent to 60 percent jump in Europe and North America.

The report urges the World Health Organization to declare dementia a health priority and for national governments to follow suit. It recommends major new investments in research to uncover what causes dementia and how to slow, if not stop, the creeping brain disease that gradually robs sufferers of their memories and ability to care for themselves, eventually killing them.

There is no known cure; today's drugs only temporarily alleviate symptoms. Scientists aren't even sure what causes Alzheimer's.

But major studies under way now should show within a few years if it's possible to at least slow the progression of Alzheimer's by targeting a gunky substance called beta-amyloid that builds up in patients' brains, noted Dr. William Thies of the U.S. Alzheimer's Association. His group is pushing for an increase in U.S. research spending, from just over $400 million to about $1 billion.

[pollroller1]

I ur I ur I forgot what I was going to say. What were we talking about?

[pollroller1]

Oh yeah I remember now. It's Bushes fault. No wait, it's Obama's fault.

[kodiak09]

Most of them are in political office.

[docpeter1953]

Who?

What?

Where?

[door331]

Just another disorder that is trying to pitch their cause for more $$$. As the article states its an "emergency", yikes! we better throw money at it fast so it can go away.

estimates like these are always inaccurate and usually only show up when they help someones agenda. Its the same story, different disease/disaster.

[jezzabella60]

Just another disorder? Nursing homes are full of people with dementia. People who live into their 90's are very likely to have some form of dementia - sometimes mild and sometimes very advanced.

[cs4466]

This explains Bush/Cheney, I suppose.

But on a more serious note - this article says "In-Depth Analysis Predicts Number of People Suffering Brain-Destroying Illnesses Could Double Every 20 Years"

Hmm. Doesn't the population itself at least double every 20 years? If not it's probably going to be pretty darn close.

So I'm not sure I see the point.

[BeckieBest]

This explains the teabaggers and the town hall screamers.

[slownewsday_5]

... as well as Rowdy...

[docpeter1953]

UH cs4466

The population may double every 20 years, but unless you are from somewhere other than earth that population "growth" occurs as the result of two factors.

1. Fewer people dying

AND

2. Babies -new humans- being born, don't know of any adults being born in this world.