Dementia diagnoses set to more than double worldwide by 2050

Global dementia cases projected to surge past 25 million a year

A major new international study predicts that the number of people diagnosed with dementia will more than double by 2050. Researchers at the University of New South Wales in Australia, who led the study, forecast that new cases worldwide will climb from some 11 million each year to around 25 million.

The increase will not only have an impact on the families affected but also on health and care services across the world.

Voices of those living with dementia

In conversations brought together on the BBC World Service, people with dementia shared their experiences. "If I say I have Alzheimer's, it's like the end of the world but it's not the end of the world," Helen told the programme. "I try to help researchers to understand that I'm still the same Helen…I'm still me."

The broadcast also heard from carers, including Amanda, who looks after her 91-year-old mother in Ghana. They discussed the stigma around dementia and the pressure it can put on families.

The feature formed part of a Boffin Media production in partnership with the BBC World Service Outside Source team, presented by James Reynolds.