‘Dementia in the Asia Pacific Region’ aims to promote a greater understanding and awareness of the social and economic impact of dementia across the countries of the Asia Pacific region. The report updates dementia prevalence data for the area, estimating that the number of people with dementia in the region will increase from 23 million in 2015 to almost 71 million by 2050. The report also includes profiles of each of ADI’s member associations in the region and their circumstances.
Some key findings from the report include:
- The number of people living with dementia in the Asia Pacific region will triple between now and 2050
- By the middle of the century, more than half of the total number of people with dementia worldwide will live in the Asia Pacific region
- Dementia care costs in the region currently stand at US$185 billion, with 70% of this amount occurring in the advanced economies
- These figures are likely to increase as the numbers of people with dementia grow, burdening the health systems of countries in the region, especially those in low- and middle- income nations
- Four major challenges are outlined in the report; the limited awareness of dementia, the false perception that dementia is a natural part of ageing, inadequate human and financial resources to meet the care needs of people with dementia, and inadequate training for professional carers
The report recommends that countries in the region should:
- Provide education and awareness
- Improve the quality of life of people living with dementia through public awareness and training programs
- Promote the development of health and community care systems to deal with an increasing number of people with the disease
- Raise awareness of risk reduction strategies
- Develop national dementia action plans
- Promote and support further research into the health and care systems in lower- and middle- income countries in the development of health policy
This report followed from an earlier report, published in 2006, which is available for reference.
