One of Australia’s top brain researchers predicted that by 2030 the number of people with dementia will double to nearly half a million, reflecting a worldwide trend for the disorder.
According to a previous study in the medical journal The Lancet, dementia is predicted to skyrocket globally in the coming decades. The climb is expected to be steepest in post-world-war-two industrialized nations, like the United States, as the Baby Boom generation continues to age.
Consider these numbers from the report:
—Today, more than 24 million people have dementia.
—Every year, there are 4.6 million new cases of dementia (1 every 7 seconds).
—Every 20 years, the number of cases will double.
—By 2040, the world will have more than 81 million people with dementia.
The leader of the Australian study, Dr. Cassandra Szoeke, said, “Early diagnosis is crucial if we are to begin managing this crisis more effectively. By the time sufferers show symptoms of memory loss, severe irreversible brain cell death may have already occurred.”