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Global Alzheimer’s disease report calls on nations to adopt dementia plans
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An international federation of Alzheimer’s disease associations is calling on governments worldwide to make dementia a part of their national plans in light of new data showing that traditional “informal” care systems will face continued stress.
The World Alzheimer Report 2013 concludes that care costs associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia are a global issue with annual costs of $604 billion in 2010. If dementia were a country, the report states, “it would be the world’s 18th largest economy, ranking between Turkey and Indonesia” or about 1% of the global gross domestic product.
The report, commissioned by Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) and Bupa (originally, the British United Provident Association), concludes that the number of elderly people in need of care will triple worldwide from 101 million to 277 million by 2050. At that time, care costs are projected to be $1.2 trillion annually.
The Alzheimer’s Association’s 2013 Facts and Figures cites a 2012 study from the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society estimating the contribution of common diseases to death. Using a representative sample of older US adults, it found dementia is the second largest contributor behind heart failure.
“We need to value those that provide frontline care for people with dementia,” Marc Wortmann, executive director of ADI, said in a news release. “Governments need to acknowledge the role of caregivers and ensure that there are policies in place to support them.”
The report also concludes that the need for dementia care is growing at a pace that could exceed available resources. Costs in the US in 2013 are estimated at $203 billion, including $142 billion for Medicare and Medicaid combined, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
“We’re calling on governments around the world to make dementia a national health priority by developing national dementia plans,” Paul Zollinger-Read, MD, chief medical officer, Bupa, said.