Study: 47 million people have dementia globally, to double every 20 years

BEIJING: Nearly 47 million people are living with dementia globally, up from 35 million in 2009. This is equivalent to one every 3.2 seconds, researchers from Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI) said in a report issued on Tuesday. 

The report estimated that 46.8 million individuals currently live with dementia, however, this figure is expected to almost treble by 2050, to 131.5 million. It added that around 58 percent of all people with dementia live in the developing countries and that by 2050, nearly half of all those with the disease live in Asia. Researchers warned that without a medical breakthrough, the numbers will likely to double every 20 years. 

"The rising global cost of dementia will pose serious challenges to health and social care systems all around the world," said Marc Wortmann, executive director of ADI, in a statement.

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