Dementia

In Context 

• The number of dementia cases in India is expected to almost double by 2050, according to a Lancet report. 

Major Points 

• Worldwide, the caseload is set to almost triple to 153 million in 2050 from 57 million in 2019.
• The highest increase in cases is projected for North Africa and the Middle East (367 per cent) and eastern sub-Saharan Africa (357 per cent).
• Causes :
  • Population growth and population ageing will be the leading cause behind this rise.

About Dementia 

• It is a syndrome in which there is deterioration in cognitive function beyond what might be expected from the usual consequences of biological ageing.
• Although dementia mainly affects older people, it is not an inevitable consequence of ageing.
  • Currently, more than 55 million people live with dementia worldwide, and there are nearly 10 million new cases every year.
• Dementia results from a variety of diseases and injuries that primarily or secondarily affect the brain. 
  • Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia and may contribute to 60-70% of cases.
    • It affects memory, thinking, orientation, comprehension, calculation, learning capacity, language, and judgement. 
      • Consciousness is not affected. 
• Impacts: 
  • It has significant social and economic implications in terms of direct medical and social care costs, and the costs of informal care.
  • There is often a lack of awareness and understanding of dementia, resulting in stigmatization and barriers to diagnosis and care.

• Treatment and care:

• There is currently no treatment available to cure dementia. 
  • Anti-dementia medicines and disease-modifying therapies developed to date have limited efficacy and are primarily labelled for Alzheimer’s disease, though numerous new treatments are being investigated in various stages of clinical trials.

• WHO response:
  • WHO recognizes dementia as a public health priority. 
    • In May 2017, the World Health Assembly endorsed the Global action plan on the public health response to dementia 2017-2025.

Source: DTE