35 million-plus worldwide have dementia:Report

by Amitjha | September 21, 2009 at 12:46 am

197 views | 54 Recommendations | 8 comments

Latest count of people suffering from Alzimers is more than 35 million, 10% more than previous prediction. Well Alzimers is on the rise or the surge is beacuse of awareness about the desesae in third world is very tough to say, but it is for sure that latest results are more threatening than the previous one.

More than 35 million people around the world are living with Alzheimer's disease or other types of dementia, says the most in-depth attempt yet to assess the brain-destroying illness — and it's an ominous forecast as the population grays.

The new count is about 10 percent higher than what scientists had predicted just a few years ago, because earlier research underestimated Alzheimer's growing impact in developing countries.

Barring a medical breakthrough, the World Alzheimer Report projects dementia will nearly double every 20 years. By 2050, it will affect a staggering 115.4 million people, the report concludes.

"We are facing an emergency," said Dr. Daisy Acosta, who heads Alzheimer's Disease International, which released the report Monday.

The U.S. and other developed countries long have been bracing for Alzheimer's to skyrocket. But the report aims to raise awareness of the threat in poorer countries, where finally people are living long enough to face what is mostly a disease of the 65-and-older population.

While age is the biggest driver of Alzheimer's, some of the same factors that trigger heart disease — obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes — seem to increase the risk of dementia, too. Those are problems also on the rise in many developing countries.

In poorer countries, "dementia is a hidden issue," Acosta said, and that's complicating efforts to improve earlier diagnosis. "You're not supposed to talk about it."

For example, the report notes that in India, such terms such as "tired brain" or "weak brain" are used for Alzheimer's symptoms amid widespread belief that dementia is a normal part of aging — when it's not.

That mistake isn't confined to the developing world. Even in Britain, the report found, just over half of the families caring for someone with dementia believed the same thing.

The new study updates global figures last reported in 2005, when British researchers estimated that more than 24 million people were living with dementia. Using that forecast, scientists had expected about 31 million people would be struggling with dementia by 2010.

But since 2005, a flurry of research on Alzheimer's in developing countries has been published, leading Alzheimer's Disease International — a nonprofit federation of more than 70 national groups — to ask those scientists to re-evaluate. After analyzing dozens of studies, the scientists projected 35.6 million cases of dementia worldwide by 2010.

Gosh do you suppose it is because of all the medications they are on??? Especially the statins, the number one selling drugs, for cholesterol that is being majorly overdosed? It is not the high cholesterol, etc that trigger it, but the medications given for it! My opinion.

Dementia is not a normal part of aging.

Well some expert may say something on that part. Well it is genetic or pharametic i don't know but the numbers are really shocking.

Statins do contribute to short term memory loss!

I hear about this buddy, I wonder how many are Politicians, as this would explain alot about the world we live in! HA!

REPORT.

There are 35 million politicians in the world.

Okay 158, I am not one for your wild theories on this story. Now let me get my calculator and do the math on your outlandish theory! ...........Hmmmm.......add the dividor.......... take this equation and multiply it....................

HOLY CRAP 158. YOU MAY BE ON TO SOMETHING!!!! HA!

The following is some information about Alzheimer's Disease that might help us understand the differences between it and dementia or other types of conditions that emulate Alzheimer symptoms in the early stages.

While research into the causes and potential cures continues, right now there are no solid answers. Some risk factors have been identified, however. They include family history and age. The disease is known to strike mostly those age 65 and over, although much younger cases have been documented. The genetic link seems to be strong, but it must be noted that not all patients with this disease have a family history of it.

Alzheimers itself is characterized by the formation of brain abnormalities over time. These plaques and tangles are caused by certain proteins, but how the tangles and plaques form exactly is still under study.

While in its earlier phases, Alzheimers is often mistaken for "normal" aging. This disease is anything but. Although there is no known cure, there are some medications and therapies that have worked in helping slow the progress of the condition. A proper diagnosis is vital, however.

Sadly, this condition is often the one chosen to label many other forms of dementia. The predominance of the disease is generally why this happens. The reality is that there are many, many other conditions that can have very similar symptoms, especially in the early and middle stages. Many of these other conditions are treatable, reversible and even short-lived. It is extremely important to rule out other potential causes for symptoms before an Alzheimers diagnosis is settled upon. This is extremely important if you have elders in your family or someone whom you believe is symptomatic.

If the symptoms of Alzheimers are suspected in a loved one, it is very important to seek help. It is also important to look for other potential causes for the behavior. Things such as bad medication combinations, extreme stress, normal aging and even other diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Huntington's and Parkinson's can evoke similar symptoms in some cases.

With more than five million cases diagnosed in the United States along, there is no doubt that Alzheimers is a major problem for the aging community. The race is on to an answer to this most troubling of medical conditions. Robbing people of their minds.

For more information on Alzheimers, try visiting http://www.helpwithalzheimers.com - a website that specializes in providing Alzheimers related tips, advice and resources to include information on Alzheimers