Significant Rise in Dementia-related Cases in India

India had witnessed a significant growth in the dementia and Alzheimer's disease affected individuals from 1990 to 2016.

India witnessed a significant rise in the number of people affected with Alzheimer's disease and other cases of dementia from 1990 to 2016, reveals a Lancet study. Owing to ageing population, the number of individuals living with dementia globally is increasing.//

According to the report published in Lancet Neurology journal, India witnessed nearly 2.9 million cases of Alzheimer's disease and other cases of dementia in the 26-year period and nearly 1.4 lakh deaths arising from the problem.

Diseases Related to Old Age
Ageing is referred to the accumulation of changes that brings a person closer to death.

‘Lifestyle interventions of reducing the BMI, quitting smoking and avoiding high sugary foods can delay the onset of dementia.’

The results showed that the number of people suffering from Alzheimer's and other dementia increased from 20.2 million in 1990 to 43.8 million globally in 2016.

Of these, 27 million were women and 16.8 million were men.

To reach this conclusion, an international group of collaborating scientists, including HSE Professor Vasily Vlasov, analysed data from 195 countries on the spread of Alzheimer's disease and other dementia between 1990 and 2016.

Dementia - Types, Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment
Dementia has become a very big concern as we have an aging population across the world. Dementia is also terrifying to us because of its disturbing symptoms and limited treatment options.

The results showed that the number of deaths from dementia has increased by 148 per cent over the same 26-year period.

Dementia is now the fifth most common cause of death worldwide and the second most common -- after coronary heart disease -- among people aged 70 or older, said the report.

Alzheimer’s disease - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Stages, Types, Prevention, Prognosis & Treatment
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting memory and thinking and making the person increasingly dependent on others.

Vlasov noted that according to the data, more than 1 million Russians -- most over 50 -- were suffering from dementia in 2016.

Researchers have linked high BMI, smoking (including all smoked tobacco products), and diet high in sugar-sweetened beverages as risk factors for dementia.

Vascular Dementia - Causes, Types, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention
Vascular dementia is the second most common form of dementia. Though it has no cure, you can still learn to manage its symptoms and lead a joyful life.

Although differences in coding for causes of death and the heterogeneity in case-ascertainment methods constitute major challenges to the estimation of the burden of dementia, future analyses should improve on the methods for the correction of these biases, said the study.

"Until breakthroughs are made in prevention or curative treatment, dementia will constitute an increasing challenge to health-care systems worldwide," it added.

There is growing evidence of risk factors for dementia, which shows that lifestyle and other interventions might, if implemented effectively, contribute to delaying the onset and reducing the future number of people who have dementia.

Source-IANS