At least 1 in every 3 Briton born this year is at risk of developing dementia during the later part of their lives, according to a study conducted by the Office of Health Economics as commissioned by Alzheimer's Research UK.
The significant percentage of potential sufferers may be due to the longer life expectancy in the UK. In 2012, the average life expectancy was already 81.5 years, much higher than the 78.7 years of the United States. Based on the analysis of the study, dementia will likely affect more girls than boys at 37% and 27% respectively, but the numbers are believed to be conservative since the research didn't take into account early-onset dementia. Currently over 800,000 people had been diagnosed with the disease in the country. The number is expected to rise to more than a million within 10 years and double by 2051.
The results of the study are enough to raise major concerns for the charity group. According to its head of policy Dr Matthew Norton, the current health care services extended to patients with dementia in the country are already "creaking." Further, the country is facing a national health crisis including a huge budget cut on the cancer fund that significantly reduced the life-extending treatments approved. This news only compounds the problem, exerting more pressure into the system.
The office, meanwhile, is calling on speeding up the necessary treatments for the disease. Based on the previous research they conducted, the number of cases can go down by at least 30% if only there's a treatment that can delay the onset by around 5 years.
Dementia is a general term used for a brain-wasting disease of unclear origin or cause, although some suggest it may be passed on. It is characterized by the progressive loss of memory and cognitive function. One of the most well-known types of dementia is Alzheimer's disease, which is triggered by the buildup of amyloid deposits in the brain, which eventually kill the brain cells. As to what caused the deposits, it's still being studied extensively.
There's no known cure for dementia and most successful treatment, although certain medications are provided to help alleviate the symptoms.
