Dementia cases in India to double by 2050: Lancet

Context

The number of dementia cases in India is expected to almost double by 2050, according to a Lancet report. 

• The projections were made based on data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 published in Lancet Journal October 2020. 

Key-highlights of the Report

• The tally will increase to 11,422,692 from 3,843,118 in 2019.
• Neighbouring countries Bangladesh, Bhutan, Pakistan and Nepal are likely to record an increase of 254 per cent, 351 per cent, 261 per cent and 210 per cent, respectively.
• Worldwide, the caseload is set to almost triple to 153 million in 2050 from 57 million in 2019, said the report. 
• Population growth and population ageing will be the leading cause behind this rise, the paper noted. 
• A higher proportion of women than men will suffer from the disease during the period.

What is Dementia?

• Dementia is a term used to describe a group of symptoms affecting memory, thinking and social abilities severely enough to interfere with your daily life. 
• It isn't a specific disease, but several diseases can cause dementia.
• Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of a progressive dementia in older adults, but there are a number of other causes of dementia. 
• Depending on the cause, some dementia symptoms might be reversible.

Causes of Dementia

• Dementia is caused by damage to or loss of nerve cells and their connections in the brain. 
• Depending on the area of the brain that's damaged, dementia can affect people differently and cause different symptoms.