More Than 35 Million People Have Alzheimer's - World Alzheimer's Report

According to a press release issued two days ago by Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI), a London-based, nonprofit, international federation of 71 national Alzheimer organizations, more than 35 million people worldwide will have dementia in 2010.  This report was released on World Alzheimer's Day to raise awareness for this disease that will have a dramatic impact on individuals and healthcare systems globally.  Methadology used to prepare the 2009 World Alzheimer's Report is explained in the full printed report and can be found online at: http://www.alz.co.uk/worldreport 

The report contains eight recommendations for the World Health Organization and national governments.  The research shows that the number of people with Alzheimer's and other dementias is rising substantially worldwide and that the impact on families, governments, and national health care systems will be immense.  Following are their recommendations:

1. The World Health Organization (WHO) should declare dementia a world health priority.
2. National governments should declare dementia a health priority and develop national strategies to provide services and support for people with dementoia and their families.
3. Low and medium income countries should create dementia strategies based first on enhancing primary healthcare and other community services.
4. High income countries should develop national dementia action plans with designated resource allocations.
5. Develop services that reflect the progressive nature of dementia.
6. Distribute services with the core principle of maximizing coverage and ensuring equity of access, to benefit people with dementia regardless of age, gender, wealth, disability, and rural or urban residence.  
7. Create collaboration between governments, people with dementia, their caregivers and their Alzheimer Associations, and other relevant Non-Governmental Organizations and professional healthcare bodies.
8. More research needs to be funded and conducted into the causes of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, pharmacological and psychosocial treatments, the prevalence and impact of dementia, and the prevention of dementia.