Dementia epidemiology and demographics

Dementia Microchapters
Patient Information
Overview
Classification
Causes Alzheimer's Disease Parkinson's Disease Binswanger's Disease Dementia with Lewy bodies Thiamine deficiency Vascular dementia Marijuana abuse AIDS Neurosyphilis Normal pressure hydrocephalus Vitamin B12 deficiency Vitamin B6 deficiency
Differential Diagnosis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Epidemiology and Demographics

The prevalence of dementia is rising as the global life expectancy is rising. Particularly in Western countries, there is increasing concern about the economic impact that dementia will have in future, older populaces. In Australia, the 2006 estimated prevalence of dementia is 1.03% of the population as a whole. Though reports of some of the longest living people claim them to be free of it (e.g. Yone Minagawa), it is a disease which is strongly associated with age; 1% of those aged 60-65, 6% of those aged 75-79 and 45% of those aged 95 or older suffer from the disease.