The number of dementia cases in India is expected to almost double by 2050, according to a Lancet report.
Context
The number of dementia cases in India is expected to almost double by 2050, according to a Lancet report.
- The projections were made based on data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 published in Lancet Journal October 2020.
Key-highlights of the Report
- The tally will increase to 11,422,692 from 3,843,118 in 2019.
- Neighbouring countries Bangladesh, Bhutan, Pakistan and Nepal are likely to record an increase of 254 per cent, 351 per cent, 261 per cent and 210 per cent, respectively.
- Worldwide, the caseload is set to almost triple to 153 million in 2050 from 57 million in 2019, said the report.
- Population growth and population ageing will be the leading cause behind this rise, the paper noted.
- A higher proportion of women than men will suffer from the disease during the period.
What is Dementia?
- Dementia is a term used to describe a group of symptoms affecting memory, thinking and social abilities severely enough to interfere with your daily life.
- It isn't a specific disease, but several diseases can cause dementia.
- Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of a progressive dementia in older adults, but there are a number of other causes of dementia.
- Depending on the cause, some dementia symptoms might be reversible.
Causes of Dementia
- Dementia is caused by damage to or loss of nerve cells and their connections in the brain.
- Depending on the area of the brain that's damaged, dementia can affect people differently and cause different symptoms.
