Context: According to a Lancet report, the number of dementia cases in India is expected to almost double by 2050.

Key Points

• Neighboring countries Bangladesh, Bhutan, Pakistan, and Nepal are likely to record an increase of 254 percent, 351 percent, 261 percent, and 210 percent, respectively.
• 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 

• Dementia is used to describe a group of symptoms affecting memory, thinking, and social abilities severely enough to interfere with your daily life.
• 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.
• Symptoms: Memory loss, Difficulty communicating or finding words, Visual and spatial abilities, such as getting lost while driving, Reasoning or problem-solving, Handling complex tasks, Confusion, and disorientation.
• Cure: Currently no cure available.

Dementia is currently 7th leading cause of death among all diseases and one of the major causes of disability and dependency among older people globally.

• Currently, more than 55 million people live with dementia worldwide, and there are nearly 10 million new cases every year.
• Dementia mainly affects older people.

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.

Key Initiative

• 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.