Who is in danger of getting dementia?
Dementia is a growing public health concern across the world. Although exact figures vary, there is a consensus that the incidence and prevalence of dementia increase with advancing age. In many studies, it has been reported that dementia affects almost 5% of the population over the age of 65 years. Dementia most frequently occurs in the fastest growing segment of the population, those over age 75. Studies have suggested that 3% of the population between the ages of 65 and 74 may have Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common cause of dementia. This number increases to almost 19% of those aged 75 to 84 years and, among persons aged 85 years and older, may approach 50%.It has been estimated that approximately 4.5 million Americans suffer from the disorder.
