Alzheimer's disease Growing concern in India as population ages: Expert

Alzheimer's disease is becoming a growing concern in India as population ages.

- Dr Kunal Bahrani

Over 8.8 million people are living with dementia in the country today, with Alzheimer's accounting for 60-70% of these. The highest prevalence is found in Odisha and Jammu and Kashmir. With life expectancy going up, more people are reaching the age where Alzheimer's becomes common, typically after 60. Awareness regarding Alzheimer's is still limited, due to which it often remains undiagnosed or is mistaken for normal symptoms of ageing.

Cases of Alzheimer's have been rising steadily due to factors such as ageing population and urban lifestyle changes including sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy diet, stress, and lack of physical activity. Diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease, which are also becoming more common, increase the risk. India is expected to see a sharp increase in Alzheimer's cases over the next 10 to 20 years. By 2036, the number of dementia patients, mainly Alzheimer's, are expected to double from 8.8 million now, mainly due to the growing population of older adults.