More than 55 million people (8.1 percent of women and 5.4 of men over 65 years of age) live with dementia, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned today.
As life expectancy increases, this number is estimated to climb to 78 million by 2030 and 139 in 2050, the entity said through a message on Twitter with a list of some of the top 10 health topics of 2021.
Individuals can do a lot on their own to stay healthy, but they can’t do it all, said the WHO, which published its first report on the international state of the response to dementia last year.
This document showed that only a quarter of countries have a national policy, strategy or plan to support people with the disease, their families or those who care for them.
The gaps are increasingly worrying, as the number of men or women with dementia rises, the organization remarked, while highlighting the urgent need to strengthen support at the territorial level, to promote change.
Many states lack earmarked funds in their health budgets, leaving significant gaps in treatment and care, the WHO warned.
He also pointed out the existence of nations that do not fully involve people with dementia, caregivers and families in the development of these policies that transform the situation.
