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Dementia is the 7th leading cause of death in the world.

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Dementia is the 7th leading cause of death in the world.

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Source: "The Lancet"

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Dementia refers to severe cognitive loss to the point where a patient is no longer able to function independently.

People can develop a combination of different types of dementia, such as Alzheimer's and vascular dementia (Small and Vorgan).

Image Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/man-holding-chin-dYNar7pk9_Y

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Dementia develops gradually throughout a person’s lifespan, but people are more susceptible to developing dementia once they reach the age of 65 (Small and Vorgan).

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On a physiological scale, dementia means the brain is receiving less oxygen and nutrient flow, accumulating more amyloid plaques and tau tangles (abnormal protein deposits), neurotransmitters are malfunctioning, and there is increased inflammation in the brain (Small and Vorgan).

Video Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5a_djndVI4U

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USC Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute

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Normal and Alzheimer's brains dataset comparison.

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Dementia, as with most other disorders or diseases of the brain, is still very mysterious and under researched.

There are hundreds of known causes, only some of which are treatable (Small and Vorgan).

Medical Illness: pneumonia, heart failure, cardiac arrhythmia, thyroid abnormalities, anemia, cancer, liver disease, lung disease, kidney failure, infections, metabolic disturbances, vitamin B12/folate deficiencies, autoimmune disease

Medications: sedatives, antidepressants, over-the-counter sleep meds, antihistamines, steroids, pain meds

Neurodegenerative disorders: Lewy bodies, frontotemporal dementia, Parkinson's disease, normal pressure hydrocephalus, vascular disease, Down syndrome

Psychiatric disorders: depression, anxiety

Other conditions: head injury, toxic exposure

11 risk factors: age, education, history of diabetes, history of depression, history of stroke, parental history of dementia, levels of deprivation, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, living alone, and being male (Gregory).

Gene that is risk factor for dementia= APOE gene (Gregory).

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Memory Loss

Forgetting names + faces

Forgetting where you placed items

Failing to remember plans

Forgetting word on tip of tongue

Reasoning difficulties

Disorientation

Language difficulties

Word finding

Mood changes

Decreased interest/initiative

Trouble completing tasks

Source: Small and Vorgan

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Created by: Josey Beavers

Information Source: Small and Vorgan

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Fear

Denial

Anger

Self-pity

Guilt

Depression

Source: Small and Vorgan

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Illustration comparing anatomy of a normal brain and a brain with Alzheimer's. 

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Dementia is not a “natural” step in how the brain ages. It is an abnormal occurrence, but an incredibly common one. In a patient who develops dementia, the progression usually occurs as follows: the brain ages, then it reaches mild cognitive impairment (MCI), then dementia forms (Small and Vorgan).

Image Source: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/alzheimers-brain-vs-normal-brain

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it would be the 14th largest economy in the world ("Dementia Statistics").

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Infographic showing projections of estimated global dementia care costs.

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2015: estimated global cost of dementia= $818 billion

2023: estimated global cost of dementia= $1.3 trillion

2030: projected global cost of dementia= $2.8 trillion.

Information and Image Source: "Dementia Statistics"

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Pie chart displaying the percentage costs of dementia care. 

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Informal Care:

Informal care, such as unpaid care from the family, makes up nearly 40% of global dementia costs. Informal care costs are greater in African regions, but lower in North America, Western Europe, and some of South America ("Dementia Statistics").

Social Care:

Social care refers to care provided by professionals or residential communities. These costs account for about 40% of global dementia costs. These costs are higher in North America, Western Europe, and some of South America, but are lower in Africa ("Dementia Statistics").

Medical Care:

The direct costs of medical care for treating dementia account for around 20% of global dementia costs ("Dementia Statistics").

Image Source: Josey Beavers

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Someone develops dementia every 3.2 seconds, and there are 10 million new dementia cases globally per year ("Dementia Statistics").

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2020= over 55 million cases worldwide

2030= projected 78 million cases worldwide

2050= projected 139-153 million cases worldwide

Source: "Dementia Statistics"

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In the U.S., more than 5 million people have Alzheimer's disease. This number is expected to triple by 2050 (Small and Vorgan).

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Countries with the highest percentage change in total number of dementia cases 2019–50 

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Countries with the highest percentage change in total number of dementia cases 2019–50 

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Qatar (1926%)

United Arab Emirates (1795%)

Bahrain (1084%)

Oman (943%)

Saudi Arabia (898%)

Kuwait (850%)

Iraq (559%)

Maldives (554%)

Jordan (522%)

Equatorial Guinea (498%)

Source: "The Lancet"

Image Source: Josey Beavers

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Countries with the highest percentage change in total number of dementia cases 2019–50

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Countries with the lowest percentage change in total number of dementia cases 2019–50 

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Countries with the lowest percentage change in total number of dementia cases 2019–50 

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Japan (27%)

Bulgaria (37%)

Serbia (38%)

Lithuania (44%)

Greece (45%)

Latvia (47%)

Croatia (55%)

Ukraine (55%)

Italy (56%)

Finland (58%)

Source: "The Lancet"

Image Source: Josey Beavers

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Countries with the lowest percentage change in total number of dementia cases 2019–50

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Interactive map with information regarding countries of focus.

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The Japanese flag hangs above a crowded area. 

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Japanese society is characterized by an aging population and a low birth rate. Therefore, it is imperative that the country prioritizes dementia care in order to support its large elderly population. Thus far, Japan has passed legislation and adopted a community-centric approach to dementia. Japan's attitude toward dementia is heavily influenced by cultural norms. Generally, elderly people are respected and well cared for in Japanese society. This is reflected in how entire neighborhoods are cooperating to support people with dementia.

Image Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/people-standing-beside-building-_p8URGduyEg

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A list of factors to improve cognitive health. 

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The flag of the United Kingdom waves outside. 

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With a rapid increase of dementia occurring throughout the United Kingdom, officials are beginning to recognize the importance of addressing this condition. It seems as though no actionable steps have been made, but there big-picture methods to improve UK education and healthcare systems have been suggested. Such goals include making access to diagnosis more accessible, continuing to take care of patients, and funding research and education initiatives.

Image Source: https://unsplash.com/@chrislawton

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As the most populous country in the world, India must adapt its healthcare systems to accommodate its growing elderly population. Many people in India cannot access healthcare, as it is often expensive, operated by private sectors, or unavailable, and this limits the amount of dementia diagnoses and treatments. Therefore, India must adapt its dementia-care systems to be community driven. In addition to funding and professional training, this seismic shift in the approach to dementia care in India will require an understanding of the diverse cultural attitudes of the country.

Image Source: https://unsplash.com/@naveedahmed

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"'In the United States, one of the most important expenditures for older adults is health care,' she [Economics professor Jinkook Lee] explained. The economic effects of individual wellbeing are not limited to financial outlays, rather health 'influences all dimensions of people lives,' including work, productivity, retirement and family life, especially when caregiving needs arise" (Scutti).