57 million people live with dementia, and there is no cure
In 2021, 57 million people lived with dementia worldwide, with nearly 10 million new cases a year and a global cost of US$1.3 trillion in 2019.
How this affects people
Dementia is the seventh leading cause of death worldwide. More than 60% of people with dementia live in low- and middle-income countries.
About half of the economic cost is care given by family and friends, who provide on average 5 hours of care and supervision a day. WHO notes there is no cure, though much can be done to support people and carers.
Look at what keeps the problem going
- 01Ageing: age is the strongest known risk factor
- 02Hypertension, diabetes, obesity, smoking, harmful alcohol use and inactivity
- 03Air pollution, limited education and unequal access to health care
- 04Underlying brain diseases, mainly Alzheimer disease and stroke
What could happen next
The future leaves room for choices. Compare the outlooks, check what supports them and notice where the evidence becomes less certain
Seventh leading cause of death
Dementia is currently the seventh leading cause of death, with nearly 10 million new cases a year.
The future is not a timetable. These summaries reflect published scenarios and trends, with deeper uncertainty at longer horizons. Choices made now matter.
Where could a useful response begin?
Begin with a question you can investigate. Compare the sources and follow related briefings to see how the problem connects to other lives and places. This prototype does not accept proposals yet.
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