Trends of the Dementia Burden in South Asia: An Analysis of 2021 Global Burden of Disease Study

Overview

Journal Aging Med (Milton)

Specialty Geriatrics

Date 2025 Feb 28

PMID 40017668

Authors

Shubham Chauhan

Diptismita Jena

Shilpa Gaidhane

Navneet Dev

Ganesh Bushi

G Padma Priya

Pawan Sharma

Mahakshit Bhat

Shilpa Sharma

M Ravi Kumar

Aashna Sinha

Quazi Syed Zahiruddin

Muhammed Shabil

Sanjit Sah

Rukshar Syed

Kamal Kundra

Alisha Dash

Hashem Abu Serhan

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to analyze the trends in the burden of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias (ADoD) in South Asia from 1990 to 2021, focusing on incidence, prevalence, mortality, and Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs). The objective is to identify key risk factors, such as metabolic and behavioral health risks, and assess regional variations in the burden of ADoD across five South Asian countries India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan.

Methods: Data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 report were analyzed using descriptive statistics and join point regression analysis. The analysis evaluated trends in ADoD incidence, prevalence, mortality, and DALYs across five South Asian countries, focusing on health risk factors, including high body mass index, behavioral and metabolic risks.

Results: A slight decrease in incidence rates from 80.57 to 79 per 100,000 was observed, alongside a significant increase in mortality rates from 14.11 to 17.2 per 100,000. While prevalence rates experienced a minor decline, Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) rose from 272.02 to 308.27 per 100,000, reflecting an increasing burden of the disease. Notably, Nepal significantly reduced its incidence rates, while Pakistan saw an increase in mortality rates. In South Asia, the highest-ranking risk factor is metabolic risks, followed by high fasting plasma glucose (FPG).

Conclusions: The growing burden of ADoD in South Asia necessitates targeted public health strategies addressing key risk factors, with metabolic health risks being a primary contributor. Public health interventions should focus on the most affected populations, particularly the elderly and females, to mitigate the increasing impact of dementia across the region.

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