Future forecasts have been bleak. With increased life expectancy also comes an increased incidence of dementia. The most negative scenarios have predicted a doubling of the number of people with dementia by 2050 – and a further doubling by the turn of the next century. But now a study shows that the future need not look so dark. The research actually shows that the proportion of Norwegians who get dementia has decreased over the past 20 years. Dementia Photo: news Dementia is a general term for organic diseases of the brain that lead to a general intellectual failure, forgetfulness, disorientation and impaired judgement. Dementia occurs most frequently in the elderly over the age of 65, but can also occur in younger people. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. There is currently no medical treatment for dementia. Source: Snl.no Fewer get it, more have it – There is a clear and significant decrease in the number of people who get dementia in all age groups over 60. We see the biggest decline in the age group 60–69. That’s what research fellow Bente Johnsen says. She is a doctor specializing in geriatrics and is behind the study. She has analyzed figures from the Tromsø survey, Norway’s largest population study, and looked at how many of the 45,000 participants were later diagnosed with dementia. Researcher Bente Johnsen points out that a healthier life may be the reason for the decrease in the incidence of dementia in the last 20 years. Photo: Jakob Bjørvig Henriksen / UiT Bente Johnsen explains that several of the risk factors for this disease have decreased. – Heart attacks, strokes and heart fibrillation share some risk factors with dementia. There have been fewer of these diseases because we smoke less, we are better at regulating high blood pressure and cholesterol levels with the right medicines. We probably live a little healthier, and better control of risk factors can lead to a lower incidence of dementia. The total number of Norwegians with dementia is still rising. The reason for this is that more of us are living longer, and old age is the most important risk factor for dementia. The curve shows a decrease in the annual incidence of new dementia cases per 1,000 people aged 50–99. Photo: Bente Johnsen, UiT Positive news for the healthcare system The results of the study are in line with studies from other western countries. So says senior researcher Bjørn Heine Strand at FHI. – As far as I know, this is the first major Norwegian study on time trends in dementia. Better treatment, healthier lifestyles and an increased level of education in the population are often cited as important factors for the positive development. He nevertheless emphasizes that we are facing an overall increase in the number of people who develop dementia. – The study finds that for each of us the risk of dementia has decreased, but due to the increase in the number of elderly people, the disease will accelerate in the future. Especially from 2025, the number in the population with dementia will increase significantly. – Society’s expenditure on dementia is greater than the expenditure on all types of cancer combined. So says senior researcher Bjørn Heine Strand at FHI. Photo: Folkehelseinstituttet Figures from FHI show that dementia accounts for 10 per cent of total health expenditure in Norway today. Nevertheless, the study from UiT Norway’s Arctic University shows that the future prospects are better than was thought just a few years ago, says Bente Johnsen. – The enormous burden on the healthcare system will come, but it will perhaps come to a slightly lesser extent. We can perhaps imagine that we will be able to take away a little more than what we had thought just 3 years ago.
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Research shows a decrease in the proportion of Norwegians who get dementia – news Trøndelag – Local news, TV and radio
