First Alzheimer's Discussion At World Economic Forum Major Step Forward

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26th January 2010, 11:55am - Views: 851






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MEDIA RELEASE PR38020


First Alzheimer's Discussion at World Economic Forum Major Step Forward


LONDON, Jan. 26 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ --


    

    - 35.6 Million People Worldwide Have Alzheimer's Disease And Other

Dementias, Incidence Projected to Double Ever 20 years


    - Total Economic Burden of $315 Billion With Increases Driven From Low &

Middle Income Countries


    For the first time ever, Alzheimer's disease is a focus at the World

Economic Forum. Today more than 35 million people worldwide have dementia and

those numbers will double every 20 years to 65.7 million in 2030 and 115.4

million in 2050, according to the World Alzheimer's Report from Alzheimer's

disease International (ADI), a London-based, nonprofit, international

federation of 71 national Alzheimer organizations.


    "The rapid increase in Alzheimer's disease creates a significant

economic, social and personal burden, yet we are just beginning to mobilize

around this condition" said Dr. Robert N. Butler, moderator of the Davos

panel and CEO and President, International Longevity Center. "Today's meeting

of government, corporate and civil society representatives is an important

step in driving urgency to act."


    "Unchecked, dementia and Alzheimer's will impose enormous burdens on

individuals, families, health care infrastructures, industry and the

worldwide economy," explained Wortman. "There is hope in taking action to

support research for better treatments and to fund and improve dementia care.

We need to raise awareness that available treatment, care and support, even

today, can make a difference."


    "Alzheimer's presents a challenge on the scale of HIV/AIDS, an

area in which we can take lessons from the global community approach. We have

the opportunity today to find partners who will work across sectors,

industries and borders to give a voice to people who suffer from Alzheimer's

and to accelerate progress in curbing its devastating effects," said Olivier

Brandicourt, another panellist and President and General Manager of Pfizer's

Primary Care Business Unit.


    Countries that lead in developing frameworks for addressing Alzheimer's

include Australia, England, South Korea, Norway, Canada, France, Germany,

Japan and Sweden.


    Increase in Prevalence Driven By Low and Middle Income Countries


    According to the 2009 World Alzheimer's Report, much of the increase

prevalence of dementia is attributable to increases in people with dementia

in low and middle income countries. The researchers found that currently

57.7% of all people with dementia worldwide live in low and middle income

countries, which is projected to rise to 70.5% by 2050.


    Growth in dementia over the next 20 years will be much steeper in low and

middle compared with high income countries. The report forecasts a 40%

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increase in numbers in Europe, 63% in North America, 77% in the southern

Latin American cone and 89% in the developed Asia Pacific countries. These

figures are to be compared with 117% growth in East Asia, 107% in South Asia,

134-146% in the rest of Latin America, and 125% in North Africa and the

Middle East.


    Worldwide, the economic cost of dementia has been estimated as US$315

billion annually. The total annual costs per person with dementia have been

estimated as US$1,521 in a low income country, rising to US$4,588 in middle

income countries, and US$17,964 in high income countries. (Anders Wimo, et

al. "An Estimate of the Total Worldwide Societal Costs of Dementia in 2005."

Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association. Volume 3,

Issue 2, April 2007.)


    About Alzheimer's disease and Dementia


    Dementia is a syndrome due to brain disease. It is usually chronic, and

is characterized by a progressive, global deterioration in intellectual

abilities, including memory, learning, orientation, language, comprehension,

and judgment. Alzheimer's disease, in particular, is progressive and fatal.

Dementia mainly affects older people, especially those over age 65. Dementia

is one of the major causes of disability in late-life and is linked to a

large number of underlying brain diseases. Alzheimer's is the most common

cause of dementia; vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, and

frontotemporal dementia are the next most common.


    Alzheimer 's Disease International


    Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI) is an international federation of

71 Alzheimer associations around the world, in official relations with the

World Health Organization. Each member is the national Alzheimer association

in their country that supports people with dementia and their families. ADI's

mission is to improve the quality of life of people with dementia and their



    Alzheimer's Disease International

    64 Great Suffolk Street

    London SE1 0BL

    T: +44-207-981-0880

    F: +44-207-928-2357

    m.wortmann@alz.co.uk

    info@alz.co.uk




    CONTACT: Marc Wortmann, 

             Executive Director, Alzheimer's Disease International, 

             Tel: +44-20-7981-0880


    SOURCE: Alzheimer's Disease International



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