Dementia projections have increased by 10 percent since a previous global study published in 2005. It is now expected that dementia prevalence will nearly double every 20 years, suggesting a possible 65.7 million people world wide in 2030.

Dementia is a syndrome due to brain disease. It is usually chronic, and is characterized by a progressive, global deterioration in intellectual abilities, including memory, learning, orientation, language, comprehension, and judgment. Alzheimer’s disease, in particular, is progressive and fatal.

Dementia mainly affects older people, especially those over age 65. After this age, dementia prevalence doubles every five years. Dementia is one of the major causes of disability in late-life and is linked to a large number of underlying brain diseases.

Worldwide, the economic cost of dementia is an estimated 315 billion (US dollars) annually. This strain will be felt by families and health care providers worldwide.