Key Takeaways

Emma Nichols, MPH, a lead author of the study and a researcher at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, told Verywell that the research that “looked at forecasting the prevalence of dementia to 2050 is part of the Global Burden of Disease study, which is a larger effort to comprehensively quantify the burden of different diseases across the world and over time.”

Where Will Dementia Cases Rise Most?

Nichols said that estimating the burden of a disease or condition, such as dementia, can emphasize its importance. It can also be a call to action for governments to create or scale up intervention programs and services for the future as well as invest in more research and basic science.

According to the report, the smallest increase in dementia prevalence may occur in Japan (27%) The largest increase is expected in Qatar (1,926%).

What Is Dementia?

Looking at Dementia Risks

The researchers highlighted a few of the most significant risk factors that will contribute to the growing number of people around the world living with dementia.

Age

Gayatri Devi, MDThere’s going to be a rather dramatic increase in dementia around the world because there are so many more people who are going to be living into the higher age ranges.

Gayatri Devi, MD

There’s going to be a rather dramatic increase in dementia around the world because there are so many more people who are going to be living into the higher age ranges.

Gayatri Devi, MD, clinical professor of neurology and psychology at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra University, an attending physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan, and a fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, told Verywell that “there’s going to be a rather dramatic increase in dementia around the world because there are so many more people who are going to be living into the higher age ranges.”

The Different Types of Dementia

Lifestyle and Diet

Risk factorsfor dementia, including obesity, high blood pressure, high blood glucose (sugar) levels, and smoking, are also expected to increase in the coming decades.

“The Western diet is making huge inroads in poor countries and underdeveloped nations,” said Devi. “Thatdietis prone to many risk factors that are the underpinnings for dementia.” Living a mostly sedentary lifestyle also contributes to obesity, high blood pressure, and high blood sugar.

Devi pointed out that while developed countries might be working on moderating the risk from these factors, many developing countries have not been able to yet.

Education Level

A lower level of education is another risk factor for dementia. The analysis projected that improved access to education could lead to about 6 million fewer cases ofdementia—but that still wouldn’t offset the projected 7 million added cases related to obesity, high blood sugar, and smoking.

According to Nichols, education is thought to lower the risk of dementia through what is called the cognitive reserve hypothesis.

Devi added that education “tends to provide some level of resilience in the face of pathology”—in other words, the brain of someone who is educated or wholearns on their ownhas a reserve and increased flexibility that bolsters it.

Learning a New Language Can Keep Your Brain Sharp

Can the Rise Be Prevented?

The rise in dementia cases globally could potentially be averted if there is a focus on prevention. According to Nichols, the report’s estimates “can be used to sort of guide policy and decision-makers in their understanding of what is the magnitude of these supports and services that will be needed in the future and to adequately prepare so we don’t have to be surprised.”

For now, more research on dementia—specifically on treatment and prevention—is needed. Nichols said that “we need to be investing in research to better understand the disease mechanisms and to develop these therapeutics, but we also cannot, at the same time, count on the success of those efforts.”

What This Means For You

However, if there is more public health focus and research on reducing risk factors, researchers feel that the increase in dementia prevalence could be avoided.

2 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

GBD 2019 Dementia Forecasting Collaborators.Estimation of the global prevalence of dementia in 2019 and forecasted prevalence in 2050: ananalysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.Lancet Public Health. 2022 Jan 6:S2468-2667(21)00249-8. doi:10.1016/S2468-2667(21)00249-8

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