1.3 Socioeconomic Impact of Dementia

Around 55 million individuals worldwide have dementia, and more than 60% reside in low- and middle-income nations. This figure is anticipated to increase to 76 million in 2030 and around 140 million in 2050 because the share of older people in the population is rising in almost every country.
It is crucial to consider both direct costs, such as nursing facilities, home healthcare, and long-term care and indirect costs, such as life quality and the effect on the caregiver, when assessing the economic impact of dementia.

When determining the cost of care for people with dementia, it’s important to remember that indirect costs of care have been demonstrated to be higher than direct costs.