A new study released by the Alzheimer Society of Canada warns of an epidemic of dementia cases within a generation. While an estimated 500,000 Canadians now suffer from dementia, that number is expected to more than double over the next twenty-five years. The study, titled Rising Tide: The Impact of Dementia on Candian Society, presents the first new prevalence data since the 1991 Canadian Study on Health and Aging. While Alzheimer's Disease represents the most common form of dementia, there are a range of other medical conditions that can have the same devastating consequences.
Of the half million dementia patients in Canada at present, about 71,000 (15 percent) are under the age of 65 with 59,000 being under the age of 60. The Society predicts an additional 250,000 dementia diagnoses within the next five years with the number swelling to well over a million by 2040.
According to Society CEO, Scott Dudgeon ""I guess the thing that's most dramatic when you look at the numbers is
this grey tsunami that people have been talking about ... seems to be
arriving now. And when you start looking at the number of
people who are going to be developing dementia over the next few years,
the impact is going to be tremendous."
The study predicts a far-reaching impact on health costs in caring for the extra dementia cases both in terms of foregone income for the patients themselves and job loss for family members who need to care for them. The full report is scheduled for release later this year.
While the figures apply to Canada alone, the dementia epidemic will be worldwide in scope. International studies estimate that one out of every twenty people over the age of 65 suffers from some sort of dementia. Current figures suggest 30 million dementia sufferers worldwide with the number swelling to 100 million by 2050. Sixty percent of dementia patients are in developing nations but that figure is expected to rise to over 70 percent by 2040. 4.6 million new cases are diagnosed each year.
Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI) has proposed a global charter that was launched on September 21, 2008 (World Alzheimer's Day). These principles include:
- Promote awareness and understanding of the disease
- Respect the human rights of people with the disease
- Recognize the key role of families and carers
- Provide access to health and social care
- Stress the importance of optimal treatment after
diagnosis
- Take action to prevent the disease, through improvements in
public health
ADI has issued an eleven point action plan stressing the need for more research into the prevention and treatment of dementia as well as providing compassionate care for patients and their caregivers.
Click here for more information.
A new study released by the Alzheimer Society of Canada warns of an epidemic of dementia cases within a generation. While an estimated 500,000 Canadians now suffer from dementia, that number is expected to more than double over the next twenty-five years. The study, titled Rising Tide: The Impact of Dementia on Candian Society, presents the first new prevalence data since the 1991 Canadian Study on Health and Aging. While Alzheimer's Disease represents the most common form of dementia, there are a range of other medical conditions that can have the same devastating consequences.
Of the half million dementia patients in Canada at present, about 71,000 (15 percent) are under the age of 65 with 59,000 being under the age of 60. The Society predicts an additional 250,000 dementia diagnoses within the next five years with the number swelling to well over a million by 2040.
According to Society CEO, Scott Dudgeon ""I guess the thing that's most dramatic when you look at the numbers is this grey tsunami that people have been talking about ... seems to be arriving now. And when you start looking at the number of people who are going to be developing dementia over the next few years, the impact is going to be tremendous."
The study predicts a far-reaching impact on health costs in caring for the extra dementia cases both in terms of foregone income for the patients themselves and job loss for family members who need to care for them. The full report is scheduled for release later this year.
While the figures apply to Canada alone, the dementia epidemic will be worldwide in scope. International studies estimate that one out of every twenty people over the age of 65 suffers from some sort of dementia. Current figures suggest 30 million dementia sufferers worldwide with the number swelling to 100 million by 2050. Sixty percent of dementia patients are in developing nations but that figure is expected to rise to over 70 percent by 2040. 4.6 million new cases are diagnosed each year.
Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI) has proposed a global charter that was launched on September 21, 2008 (World Alzheimer's Day). These principles include:
ADI has issued an eleven point action plan stressing the need for more research into the prevention and treatment of dementia as well as providing compassionate care for patients and their caregivers.
Click here for more information.