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Global dementia costs spiral

in
Date published: 
Thursday, March 26, 2009
News source: 
Alzheimer's Research Trust
Region: 
United Kingdom
Featured item on home page: 
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Leading scientists warned today of a worldwide ‘dementia crunch’, as it emerged that Alzheimer’s and other dementias, which affect 29.4 million people, are costing the global economy over £215 billion (US$315.4bn).

Swedish scientists from Stockholm’s Karolinska Institutet presented their findings at the Alzheimer’s Disease International conference in (26th March).
 
Prof Julie Williams, Chief Scientific Adviser of the Alzheimer’s Research Trust, said:
“We’re all concerned about the credit crunch, but we should be really worried about a dementia crunch. Efforts to defeat dementia through research must be given the highest priority.”
 
Rebecca Wood, Chief Executive of the Alzheimer’s Research Trust, said:
“Because of the ‘greying of the world’, the economic cost of dementia is set to spiral. This latest study suggests that global prevalence of dementia will quadruple to nearly 120 million people by 2050.
 
“We do not have to accept this: if governments, NGOs and others invest in dementia research now, we could slow or halt the condition and avert a worldwide catastrophe.”
 
Dr Anders Wino of the Karolinska Institutet said:
“Worldwide costs for dementia are enormous. In light of the rapidly growing future prevalence estimates, in particular in less developed regions, the economic impact of dementia is a great challenge for every society.”

 

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