Page Reader AI | The reason dementia rates are rising

The reason dementia rates are rising — and what to do about it

AI Summary Hide AI Generated Summary

Key Findings:

A study published in Nature Medicine projects a doubling of dementia cases in the US by 2060, reaching one million cases. This projection, while alarming, also reflects increased longevity and delayed onset of the disease due to advancements in healthcare.

Reasons for Rising Rates:

Increased life expectancy means more people are living long enough to develop dementia. Advances in treating cardiovascular disease and cancer have also contributed to this rise by allowing people to live longer.

Hopeful Outlook:

The study emphasizes that modifiable risk factors exist, and proactive measures can reduce the likelihood of developing dementia. Epidemiologist Michael Fang highlights the potential to mitigate the projected increase through preventative strategies.

Call to Action:

The study underscores the urgent need for increased investment in the healthcare workforce and preventative measures to address the growing number of dementia cases and the associated burden on families and the economy.

In January, a study published in the journal Nature Medicine suggested that by 2060, the number of Americans with dementia will double to a total of one million. Also doubling: The estimated lifetime risk of developing the condition, compared to previous estimates.

Figures like these can sound scary — and indeed, dementia projections carry some warnings. For one, they suggest the U.S. urgently needs to pour resources into growing its caregiving workforce to meet future needs. But paradoxically, this number also tells a success story.

Today, thanks to decades of social and medical progress, more Americans than ever are living long enough to get dementia; in the past, more people would have died of cardiovascular disease or cancer at earlier ages. These health advances have also delayed the condition’s onset for many people.

Perhaps the most hopeful news about dementia is that there’s a lot people can do to lower their chances of developing it, says Michael Fang, an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and lead author of the recent study.

The new study hints at the potential disruption to families, caregivers, and the economy if nothing changes to reduce dementia risk, he says. “But if we do do something, there is an opportunity and a potential to bend the curve a little bit.”