44 million people suffer from dementia globally, likely to rise 3 times by 2050'

DOHA: Around 44 million people live with dementia worldwide and the figure is expected to triple and reach 135 million by 2050, according to a new report.

Dementia is "one of the major causes of disability and dependency among older people worldwide", the global report for dementia released by the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) said.

"In 2010, the global cost of care reached an estimated USD 604 billion worldwide, equivalent to one per cent global gross domestic product - meaning if dementia care were a country, it would be the world's 18th largest economy," it said, adding the "devastating and prevalent" disease had huge social and financial burdens.

"The research shows that worldwide 44 million people live with dementia - alarmingly this figure is likely to triple by 2050, to 135 million people," it said.

Experts noted that global understanding of dementia lags behind other diseases and is often mistaken as a normal part of ageing.

"Whilst there continues to be a social stigma surrounding dementia, the level of necessary funding will not be addressed equivalent to the need. In the US, funding for HIV/AIDS research is more than five times the level of that for dementia research despite the fact there are five times as many Americans with Dementia than with HIV," the report said.

The report explores a wide range of dementia-related issues, including the current barriers and challenges besides innovative solutions, including raising public awareness, care innovations, new financial models and more effective regulatory frameworks.

It offers governments 10 key policy recommendations, aimed at improving both outcomes for individuals living with dementia and for economies struggling to pay for the costs of caring for dementia.

"It's clear that there is not one simple panacea for dementia that lies just beyond our reach. Rather, it will take the concerted and integrated efforts of leaders and innovators in all sectors to move the needle on this extraordinary social and economic challenge," said Ellis Rubinstein, president and CEO of the New York Academy of Sciences who was appointed as the chair of the Dementia Forum.

Dementia is one of eight reports presented at the 2015 WISH Summit where leaders, health experts and policy makers from around the world have met to discuss innovative solutions to some of the most pressing global health challenges.

The second two-day WISH, an initiative of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, began here yesterday.