Epidemiological aspects of dementia
It is estimated that by 2050 the world population over the age of 60 will be 2 billion. Population ageing is occurring rapidly in LMIC. A clearly negative effect of rapid ageing of the population is the increase in the number of the people with dementia. Although dementia mainly affects older people, it is not a normal part of ageing. According to different estimates, between 2% and 10% of all cases of dementia start before the age of 65. The prevalence doubles with every five-year increment in age after 65. The number of people globally who are living with dementia in 2011 is estimated to be 35.6 million, and epidemiological studies indicate that this number is expected to grow at an alarming rate. It is estimated that numbers will nearly double every 20 years, to 65.7 million in 2030 and 115.4 million in 2050. The majority of these people will be living in LMIC.