Dementia cases in China are growing faster than in the rest of the world

Cases of Alzheimer's and other dementias are growing faster in China than the global average, according to a study published Wednesday (7) in the journal PLOS One.

In the work , researchers from Fudan University in China analyzed more than three decades of global health data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD), a public database created jointly by institutions including the World Bank and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The study found that between 1990 and 2021, cases of dementia and Alzheimer's in China tripled, while global cases doubled. In addition, the researchers found that women have a higher overall disease burden, in part due to longer life expectancy, but men have slightly higher mortality rates from the condition.

The study also projected trends for the next 15 years using statistical models, suggesting that dementia rates will continue to rise, especially in China, unless more effective interventions are implemented.

Among the risk factors for dementia, the study showed that high blood sugar from diabetes is now the leading preventable risk factor for dementia worldwide, including in China. Smoking and high body weight are also important factors, especially among men.

Furthermore, the study authors concluded that the rising rates of dementia and Alzheimer's in China are being driven by population growth and changing age demographics. However, they stress that measures such as reducing high blood sugar and smoking, particularly among older people, could slow the rise in dementia cases.

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