DEMENTIA

A public health priority

What are the symptoms?
Memory loss
Difficulty
with words and
numbers

Confusion in
familiar
environments

Difficulty with
everyday tasks

Mood swings

Who is affected?

What does it cost?

US$ 604 billion:

Over 47 million
people worldwide

estimated costs to society in 2010

Nearly 60% live in

low- and middle-income
countries

What is the
cause?

Close to 8 million
new cases every year

People with
dementia (millions)

Cases set to almost

triple by 2050
150

Conditions that
affect the brain, such as
Alzheimer's disease,
stroke or head injury

100
50
2015

2030

2050

Year

What are the challenges?

Stigmatization
Delays in diagnosis
Lack of access
to treatment

Insufficient support
for caregivers

Absence of cure

What can help...

... people with dementia
EARLY
DIAGNOSIS

KEEPING
ACTIVE
both physically
and mentally

TREATMENT
RESEARCH

for accompanying
physical illness
and psychological
distress

to improve care
and find a cure

LAWS

... and their families

to protect their
human rights

INFORMATION
AND SUPPORT
provided by
health-care and
social services

Global action against dementia

What we must do
CIVIL SOCIETY
Raise awareness
and increase
understanding

WHO
Provide a
knowledge base
Assist countries with
dementia plans
Monitor progress

www.who.int/dementia
#globaldementia

GOVERNMENTS
Develop and
implement policies
and plans
Increase
investment in
research
Improve health
and social care