On 13 January 2025, ADI has published a commentary in Nature Reviews Neurology challenging the continued exclusion of dementia as a non-communicable disease from policies and frameworks. The paper written in collaboration with academics from the London School of Economics, highlights the striking data that dementia will be the 3rd leading cause of death globally by 2040.
A non-communicable disease (NCD) is a medical condition or disease that is not transmitted from person to person. These diseases or conditions are typically long-lasting and progress slowly over time. They are also often referred to as chronic diseases. Despite dementia fitting this category, it is often missed or excluded from policy, frameworks or funding designed to address non-communicable diseases, impacting governmental or multilateral responses, or in some instances dementia is missed due to a on premature mortality in NCDs (deaths under the age of 70). Recent examples of this include guides on “Strengthening NCD integration in humanitarian emergencies” and “Invisible numbers: the focus true extent of noncommunicable diseases and what to do about them”
Data from the paper highlights at a national level, dementia is projected to be among the top 10 leading causes of death in 166 of the 195 countries and territories for which calculations are possible. Among these countries, it is projected to rank in the top five causes of death in 121, the top two in 53, and will be the leading cause of death in 19 countries. When considering year’s of life lost, dementia will be the 5th leading cause by 2040.
ADI CEO, Paola Barbarino, one of the leading authors of the article, says that although dementia is forecast to be the third leading cause of death by 2040, governments continue to misrepresent the condition.
Unlike other non-communicable diseases like cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes, dementia does not receive the same funding or level of inclusion in health policy. We know that the number of people living with dementia is set to almost triple in number by 2050, to 139 million. Given the prevalence and severity of living with dementia, its omission by policy makers worldwide is perplexing.
In the commentry ADI argues for the greater inclusion of dementia within NCD policies and frameworks to ensure those living with dementia and carers recive the support and care they deservce and need. This is increasinly important in the build up to the 4th High level meeting on NCDs at the United Nations General Asssembly in September 2025 where Member States will be charting the global course of action for addressing these conditions.
Another leading author of the article, Lewis Arthurton, ADI Head of Communications and Policy said:
The exclusion of dementia from non-communicable disease frameworks is a significant gap that limits progress in addressing its impact. Dementia is a major public health issue and should be recognised alongside other non-communicable diseases like cancer and heart disease. With projections showing it will become one of the leading causes of death globally by 2040, it is essential that policymakers and governments allocate appropriate resources. By doing so, we can ensure better support for those living with dementia and carers.
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