This trend raises awareness about the need for Brazil to prepare its health system to serve the large number of people who will need medical help – and their families, who take on the care. It also highlights the importance of prevention strategies to reduce the number of people with dementia.
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O Alzheimer's is a neurodegenerative and progressive disease. People diagnosed with Alzheimer's or other dementias begin to have difficulty carrying out daily tasks and stop working. With a global cost of US$1,3 trillion, dementia is now one of the main causes of disability and dependence worldwide.
In Brazil, there is still no clarity on the total number of people with the disease, but it is estimated that around 2 million live with dementia – Alzheimer’s accounts for the largest proportion. For 2050, the projection is that this number reach around 6 million people – an increase of 200%.
The accelerated aging of the Brazilian population increases the challenges. In European countries, such as France, it took a hundred years for the rate of elderly people to double. “In Brazil, it’s only taking a few decades”, explains Cleusa Ferri, professor at the Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp). “Hence, the importance of taking very quick actions to take care of people in this stage of life.”
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Worldwide, the forecast is that cases of dementia will increase from 57,4 million to 152,8 million – an increase of 166% – in 2050. The growth trend is lower than the global average in countries such as Germany, Italy and Japan. And higher in others, such as Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru and African countries. The data is part of a global survey published this year in the journal Lancet Public Health.
O population increase and aging are the main reasons for the projection of greater growth in Alzheimer's in African and Latin American countries. Problems of low education and unhealthy lifestyle habits They also help to ensure that the incidence of people with dementia does not fall in these regions.
In countries in North America and Europe, for example, data already suggests a tendency towards a reduction in the incidence of dementia – which scientists attribute to the increase in education levels and the greater offer of treatments for cardiovascular problems, one of the main forms to prevent Alzheimer's.
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High-income countries already have more structured care services for people with dementia, such as primary care and rehabilitation, according to a report from the World Health Organization (WHO) last year. Low- and middle-income nations, such as Brazil, are more dependent on informal care provided by family members, who often have to leave their professional activities, with impacts on the economy.
Curto Curatorship:
- How science is changing the target in finding a cure for Alzheimer's (UOL)
- Pharmaceutical companies around the world are optimistic about the advancement of Alzheimer's (The Times*)🚥
- Alzheimer's: How do physical exercise and sleep help prevent the disease? See how to protect yourself (Terra)
- Chance of older people having Alzheimer's increases up to 80% after covid-19 (TecMundo)
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