Dementia: A global health priority
Problem Definition:
When you think of the most common health problems, you might think of conditions like heart disease, stroke, or cancer. And you’d be right — these are among the most common health problems in the world, affecting millions of people annually. Though some of us may be lucky enough to avoid developing these conditions, there is one health issue that remains staunchly inescapable and incurable — aging.
As humans, we’ve become accustomed to the process of aging, and we generally accept that past a certain age our organs and bodily functions will begin a slow process of decline. As our immune systems and bodies weaken, the chance of developing health issues grows. One of the most challenging and painful parts of the aging process are neurodegenerative diseases — i.e. Dementia and Alzheimer’s, diseases that slowly but surely destroy brain function and memory.
For decades, the existing treatments for these conditions only addressed symptoms, and not underlying causes or the disease itself. In July of this year, the FDA granted accelerated approval for Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm. This article was prompted by both the recent FDA approval and the projection that global dementia cases will likely triple by 2050 due to an increase in the prevalence of risk factors like smoking and high blood sugar.
Dementia vs. Alzheimer’s: What’s the difference?
Dementia is not a specific disease, but rather an umbrella term that can refer to a group of conditions that cause neurological decline. It’s often used as a general word to describe the symptoms of conditions like Alzheimer’s, i.e. a decline in mental ability, memory, and reasoning skills.
Alzheimer’s is a specific degenerative brain disease that leads to the aforementioned symptoms of dementia.
Economic Impact
As cognitive decline advances, patients become gradually less able to care for themselves on a daily basis. The structure of our economic system typically does not allow those with ill family members to take time off, often leaving people with no choice but to outsource care for their loved ones.
In 2020, the economic burden of dementia was estimated at $305 billion. As the average age of mortality continues to increase, this number is expected to hit the trillions. Most of these costs are attributed to the skilled nursing care, in-home healthcare, and hospice care often necessary for dementia patients. Strategies and programs that aid in developing tools for early diagnosis and treatment can help lead to reduced costs for patients and caregivers.
The health systems in North America are unfortunately not set up to cater to those suffering from cognitive decline. Research has demonstrated that a population-based approach that prioritizes advanced planning and pro-active care for dementia patients may provide the greatest outcomes for patients and caregivers.
Treatment and Prevention
The Lancet Commission on dementia prevention, intervention, and care, currently recognizes 12 potentially important risk factors that scientific evidence has demonstrated can potentially increase an individual’s chance of developing dementia. These risk factors are:
- Less Education
- Hypertension
- Hearing Impairment
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Depression
- Physical Activity
- Diabetes
- Low Social Contact
- Excessive Alcohol Consumption
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Air Pollution
While there is no scientifically proven way to eliminate the risk of developing dementia, adopting certain life-style changes can reduce the risk significantly.
