Is Dementia Actually Increasing or Decreasing? The Current State of Aging and Dementia in Japan You Need to Know

Tama-chan and GG Yumeta's Witty Talk!! [Health]

GG Yumeta:Oh, Tama-chan, what's the matter? You suddenly have such a serious look on your face.

Tama-chan:Hey GG, I saw something about dementia on TV. Is it going to increase or decrease from now on? Which one is it?

GG Yumeta:Well, well, so you've started taking an interest in such things, Tama-chan. Good for you. Well, to give you the conclusion, unfortunately, it is expected to continue to increase.

Tama-chan:What! Really!? Why? Isn't medicine advancing?

GG Yumeta:Hmm, that's a good question. Medicine is advancing, but what is advancing even more is the fact that the number of elderly people like us is increasing rapidly. You see, the older you get, the higher the probability that dementia will show its face.

Tama-chan:Oh, I see. You and your friends, GG Yumeta, are living longer and healthier lives, right?

GG Yumeta:That's right! We won't lose to the young ones yet! But you know, behind that vitality, the shadow of dementia also looms. Especially in Japan, the number of elderly people is increasing at a speed rarely seen in the world, so it is predicted that the number of people with dementia will increase in proportion to that.

Tama-chan:So, will it just be full of people with dementia? That's a bit scary...

GG Yumeta:Hahaha, don't jump to conclusions, Tama-chan. Of course, everyone is working hard to prevent that from happening. For example, research is progressing on how improving lifestyle habits and using your brain can reduce the risk of developing dementia. Plus, even if you do get dementia, if you find it early and deal with it, you can slow down its progression.

Tama-chan:Wow! So, if everyone works hard, we can stop it a little?

GG Yumeta:Exactly! That's just it! That's why it's important for the younger generation like you, Tama-chan, to take an interest like this. It's essential for both our senior generation and your generation to put our heads together and create a better society.

[Details] According to current estimates, the number of patients with dementia is expected to continue to increase in the future.

The main reasons are as follows:

• Progress of aging: Since the risk of developing dementia increases with age, the absolute number of dementia patients is predicted to increase as the global population ages. In Japan in particular, the population is aging at an unprecedented speed, making the increase in the number of dementia patients a serious issue.

  • According to estimates by the Cabinet Office, the number of dementia patients aged 65 and over in Japan is expected to rise from 4.62 million in 2012 (one in seven elderly people) to approximately **7 million in 2025 (one in five elderly people)**.

  • It is estimated that the number of dementia patients aged 65 and over will be 5.84 million in 2040, 5.866 million in 2050, and 6.451 million in 2060.

However, it has also been pointed out that the rate of increase may fluctuate due to several factors.

• Progress in Preventive Measures: It is suggested that improvements in lifestyle habits and the management of dementia risk factors (such as high blood pressure and diabetes) may suppress future prevalence rates. In fact, some Western countries have reported that the prevalence and incidence rates of dementia have remained flat or shown a downward trend in the past.

• Advances in Medical Technology: If early detection and the development of treatments progress, it is expected that these will have the effect of slowing the progression of dementia or preventing its onset.

Currently, the wave of an aging population is significant, and the total number of dementia patients is expected to increase; however, efforts toward prevention and the realization of a society where people can live together are becoming increasingly important.