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The prevalence of dementia worldwide will nearly double every 20 years to 65.7 million in 2030 and 115.4 million in 2050. The new statistics come from the World Alzheimer Report, released today as part of World Alzheimer’s Day. More than 70,000 British Columbians are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia and nearly 10,000 of these individuals are under the age of 65.
Alzheimer’s Disease International, who published the report, states that early diagnosis of dementia remains a critical first step for receiving appropriate information and treatment. The report also focuses on the growing impact and challenges of dementia on caregivers, health care systems and government worldwide. The full 2009 World Alzheimer Report, including the methodology used to prepare it, can be found at http://www.alz.co.uk/worldreport.
“Our population continues to age, and early diagnosis is indicating that dementia is not just a disease that affects the old because we are seeing cases in people as young as 45 years of age,” explained Jean Blake, CEO, Alzheimer Society of B.C. “The need to support people with dementia, their caregivers and families will increase as well, having implications on our healthcare system. Our programs and services specifically provide for that need in this province, and we are continuing to move ahead with our research, education and advocacy initiatives as well.”
Also as part of the World Alzheimer’s Day, Alzheimer Society Canada has launched a social media campaign, One Million Tweets to Remember, to raise awareness about the disease and funds for research. The intent is to digitally memorialize one million people who have lived with Alzheimer’s disease by having their loved ones tweet about them on Twitter. Join the Twitter movement at http://1mtweets.com/.
Jim Mann, diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease two and a half years ago at the age of 58 (pictured at the Alzheimer Society of B.C.’s Coffee Break event on September 17 in Vancouver) advocates for funding and education for the growing numbers of people living with dementia.
