Millions Worldwide Have Undiagnosed Alzheimer's

Report by Alzheimer's Disease International Highlights Undertreatment of Dementia

By Salynn Boyles
WebMD Health News
Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD

Sept. 13, 2011 -- As many as three-fourths of the 36 million people worldwide who have Alzheimer's disease or other dementias have not been diagnosed, limiting access to treatment for patients and support for caregivers, a new report finds.

The report was released today by the global patient advocacy organization Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI). It highlights what the group calls the worldwide problem of underdiagnosis and undertreatment of dementias.

The group also called on governments throughout the world to develop national strategies to promote the early diagnosis and treatment of dementia.

"Failure to diagnose Alzheimer's in a timely manner represents a tragic missed opportunity to improve the quality of life for millions of people," ADI chairwoman Daisy Acosta notes in a written statement.

The global incidence of Alzheimer's disease is projected to quadruple within the next four decades. By the year 2050, it is believed that more than 100 million people will have dementias.

(More here.)