September 12, 2024
Overview:
Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias (ADODs) not only affect individuals and their families but also impose significant economic burdens on societies. The economic burden of ADODs is massive and unevenly distributed. Countries with fewer resources face a heavier reliance on unpaid caregiving. This One Health Trust co-authored study explored the global economic cost of ADODs and how it varies across countries, using data from 152 regions worldwide.
The Question:
How do ADODs impact the global economy and what are the main contributors to this economic burden?
The Findings:
From 2020 to 2050, ADODs will cost the world approximately $14.5 trillion (adjusted to 2020 international dollars)—about 0.42 percent of the annual global GDP. China, the USA, and Japan bear the largest economic burdens. Informal caregiving accounts for 60 percent of costs in high-income countries and up to 85 percent in lower-middle-income countries. Treatment and formal care are higher in high-income countries (30 percent) but much lower in lower-income regions (10 percent). The study highlights the urgent need for global policies and investments to support caregivers, improve access to treatment, and address the financial strain of ADODs.
Read the article in The Lancet Global Health here.
