Log In | Register
The global cost of dementia this year will be £388bn – more than 1% of GDP – and governments are unprepared to meet the challenge, according to a report released today.
The cost of social care, unpaid care by relatives and the medical bills for treating dementia was calculated in the World Alzheimer's Report 2010. Experts from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm and King's College London examined the cost of dementia care and found that, if it was a country, it would be the world's 18th biggest economy.
Global dementia costs hit £388bn
Seeded on Tue Sep 21, 2010 8:08 AM EDT
Article Source: Guardian Unlimited- Enjoy this article? Help vote it up the 'Vine.
- Public Discussion (1)
If it was a company, it would be the world's biggest by annual revenue, higher than Wal-Mart (£265.6bn) and Exxon Mobil (£200bn).
Campaigners have already warned that the costs of caring for people with dementia are on the rise, mostly owing to people living longer. The number of people with dementia, currently 35.6 million, will almost double by 2030 to 65.7 million, and more than triple by 2050, when it is estimated there will be 115.4 million people with the brain disorder.
The study said the costs will rise even faster than the prevalence of dementia – there could be an 85% increase in worldwide costs by 2030. In the UK, the Alzheimer's Society estimated that dementia currently costs the country £20bn a year.
- 1 vote
#1 - Tue Sep 21, 2010 8:09 AM EDTYou're in Easy Mode. If you prefer, you can use XHTML Mode instead. |
As a new user, you may notice a few temporary content restrictions. Click here for more info.
