Worldwide, 36 million people have dementia. Perhaps as many as 28 million of the world’s 36 million people with dementia have yet to receive a diagnosis and, therefore, do not have access to treatment, information and care.⁹

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for 50–70% of cases.¹⁰  Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder, in which the brain gradually degenerates. It most frequently occurs in people aged above 65–70 years. People with Alzheimer’s disease develop distressing changes in memory, thought, function and behaviour, which worsen over time. These changes increasingly impact upon the person’s daily life, reducing their independence, until ultimately they are entirely dependent on others.⁸

Alzheimer’s disease also has an enormous impact on the patient’s caregiver. Most caregivers are close relatives who provide care in the home – a demanding and exhausting role that represents a huge emotional and physical burden.⁸

Every year, an estimated 4.6 million new cases are identified. With the shift towards an increasingly elderly population, it is predicted that the number of people affected by dementia will almost double every 20 years, and by the year 2050, 115 million people will have the condition.⁹

The worldwide costs of dementia (US$604 billion in 2010) amount to more than 1% of gross domestic product (GDP).(2)  By 2018, the global cost of dementia will have increased to $818 billion, making the disease one of the most significant health crises of the 21st century.¹¹