Study suggests that incidence of dementia is declining

A new study shows that there was a 20% drop in the incidence of dementia in the study group, driven by a reduction in men across all ages above 65

A new study shows that there was a 20% drop in the incidence of dementia in the study group, driven by a reduction in men across all ages above 65

The study showing the decrease sampled selected populations in England and Wales in 1989-1994 and the looked at the same areas again in 2008-2011.
    
These findings suggest that in the UK there were just under 210,000 incident cases per year, 74,000 men and 135,000 women. The higher numbers of women reflect women's greater longevity rather than a greater susceptibility to dementia.

A review of the evidence by Prince et al published in 2013 (see link here) found that prevalence of dementia for those aged ≥60 years varied in a narrow band, 5%–7% in most world regions. It was estimated that 35.6 million people lived with dementia worldwide in 2010, with numbers expected to almost double every 20 years, to 65.7 million in 2030 and 115.4 million in 2050. In 2010, 58% of all people with dementia lived in countries with low or middle incomes, with this proportion anticipated to rise to 63% in 2030 and 71% in 2050.

Austin Thornton of Wrigleys Health and Care team said: "In an earlier news items (here) we reported on the Blackfriars statement and NICE guidance suggesting that maintaining good cardio-vascular health in mid life was thought to have a preventative effect in older age. This study suggests that improvements in cardio vascular health, in particular smoking reduction, may be effective in reducing prevalence."

 May 2016