Experts warn that not only is this health crisis moving at an alarming rate, but certain groups may also be more at risk than others for developing the degenerative disease.<\/p>\n
![\"Senior](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/cropped-view-senior-man-playing-39175829.jpg\")
The most comprehensive study to date has found that dementia cases globally are expected to double by 2050. LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n
In the most comprehensive estimate of new dementia cases worldwide, a study published Monday in JAMA Neurology looked at multiple studies spanning almost 40,000 people across 18 countries.<\/p>\n
Researchers from UNSW Sydney\u2019s Center for Healthy Brain Aging<\/a> analyzed data from 22 studies and found that there were 11.4 million new dementia cases in 2023 \u2014 a number that\u2019s projected to more than double to 24.7 million by 2050.<\/p>\n This means that every year, the equivalent of the population of Australia will develop dementia, according to geriatrician Dr. Liron Sinvani<\/a>, the director of research and innovation for the Northwell Institute for Healthy Aging<\/p>\n \u201cIn\u00a0terms of the scale, obviously, this number of new dementia cases is staggering,\u201d Sinvani told The Post. \u201cThis is not a future problem. It\u2019s an accelerating epidemic crisis that demands immediate attention.\u201d<\/p>\n The new study focused on incidence \u2014 the rate at which people develop dementia or new cases per year \u2014 instead of prevalence, or the total number of people living with the condition at a given time.<\/p>\n The rapidly rising numbers are due to aging populations, with Sinvani noting that about 1 in 9 people have dementia after 65, \u201cbut after 85, it could be almost 1 in 3.\u201d<\/p>\n However, two groups saw higher cases of progressive erosion of memory, concentration and judgment: women and those living in low- and middle-income countries.<\/p>\n \u201cEven when controlling for age, the study showed that incidence, not just prevalence, was significantly higher in women, more than men,\u201d Sinvani said.<\/p>\n Rates were higher among women, with 10.6 cases per 1,000 people compared to 8.6 among men, which Sinvani posits may be due to \u201csomething biological, social or environmental that\u2019s putting women at greater risk.\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile, new dementia cases were 64% higher in people from low- and middle-income countries compared to high-income countries.<\/p>\n This means that countries with the least amount of resources for diagnosis, treatment and care will deal with more cases.<\/p>\n Education level also played a role in determining who was more susceptible to the neurodegenerative disease, with lower education being strongly linked to dementia incidents.<\/p>\n An earlier study from 2024<\/a> reported similar findings, identifying 14 modifiable risk factors that accounted for nearly half of dementia cases, with education being one.<\/p>\n \u201cUnderstanding these differences is critical if we are to develop dementia prevention, diagnosis and care strategies that respond to the populations facing the greatest future risk,\u201d lead study author Dr. Ashleigh Vella said in a press release<\/a> about the new UNSW Sydney study.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/hospital-tablet-doctor-mature-patient-144760223.jpg\")
In 2023, 11.4 million new dementia cases were diagnosed \u2014 a number that\u2019s projected to more than double by 2050. HockleyMedia24\/peopleimages.com \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n