PreprintPDF Available

Dementia in India: An Overview

Authors:
Preprints and early-stage research may not have been peer reviewed yet.

Abstract

Dementia is a rapidly growing concern in India, with a projected increase in the number of affected individuals in the coming years. People over the age of 60 are expected to account for 19.1% of the overall population by 2050. This population ageing is likely to be accompanied by a significant increase in the prevalence of dementia. A number of prospective longitudinal investigations on the aetiology of dementia have been conducted in North America and Europe; however, the conclusions of this research cannot be simply applied to the Indian population. In terms of socioeconomic, cultural, linguistic, geographical, lifestyle-related, and genetic aspects, India's population is extraordinarily varied. This review provides an in-depth look at the current situation of dementia in India, including its prevalence, risk factors, available treatments, and the impact it has on individuals, families, and society as a whole. Despite the increasing number of people living with dementia in India, the country still lacks adequate resources and awareness about the condition. This highlights the need for a comprehensive national strategy for the prevention, treatment, and care of people with dementia in India. With a growing aging population, addressing the issue of dementia in India is of utmost importance to ensure that affected individuals receive the care and support they need to live dignified and fulfilling life.
Dementia in India: An Overview
Neeru Chaudhary
School of Allied Health Sciences & Management, Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research University,
Pushp Vihar, Sector 3, M.B. Road, New Delhi 110017, India
Abstract: Dementia is a rapidly growing concern in India, with a projected increase in the number
of affected individuals in the coming years. People over the age of 60 are expected to account for
19.1% of the overall population by 2050. This population ageing is likely to be accompanied by a
significant increase in the prevalence of dementia. A number of prospective longitudinal
investigations on the aetiology of dementia have been conducted in North America and Europe;
however, the conclusions of this research cannot be simply applied to the Indian population. In
terms of socioeconomic, cultural, linguistic, geographical, lifestyle-related, and genetic aspects,
India's population is extraordinarily varied. This review provides an in-depth look at the current
situation of dementia in India, including its prevalence, risk factors, available treatments, and the
impact it has on individuals, families, and society as a whole. Despite the increasing number of
people living with dementia in India, the country still lacks adequate resources and awareness
about the condition. This highlights the need for a comprehensive national strategy for the
prevention, treatment, and care of people with dementia in India. With a growing aging population,
addressing the issue of dementia in India is of utmost importance to ensure that affected individuals
receive the care and support they need to live dignified and fulfilling life.
Keywords: Dementia, epidemiology, prevalence, India.
Dementia affects an estimated 47 million
people worldwide and is the leading cause of
death in England and Wales (Jacob et al.,
2007; Venugopal et al., 2022). It is estimated
that by 2030, the number of people with
dementia will increase to 75 million and by
2050 to 132 million. Alzheimer’s disease is
the most common cause of dementia,
accounting for 60-70% of cases (Cheng et al.,
2016; Khan et al., 2020; Sosa et al., 2012).
The cost of caring for people with dementia
is estimated to reach $1 trillion globally in
2018. The global cost of dementia is
estimated to reach $1.1 trillion in 2018, with
the majority of costs borne by families and
caregivers (Brainin et al., 2019; Das et al.,
2010; Görpelioğlu et al., 2018). Dementia is
more common in women than in men, with
2/3rd of people with dementia being women.
In low- and middle-income countries, less
than 1 in 10 people with dementia receive a
formal diagnosis (Prince et al., 2012;
Srivastava & Muhammad, 2022). The
number of people with dementia is projected
to triple by 2050. In the United States, it is
estimated that Alzheimer’s disease and other
forms of dementia will cost over $290 billion
in 2018 (Ghoge et al., 2003; Robertson et al.,
2016; Villarreal et al., 2016; Vollmar et al.,
2016). In addition to the direct costs of care,
there is a significant indirect cost associated
with dementia, such as loss of productivity,
informal care, and reduced quality of life for
people with dementia and their caregivers
(Gallagher et al., 2009; Pathak & Biswal,
2021; Perkins et al., 2022). These statistics
highlight the significant global impact of
dementia and the urgent need for effective
interventions to address the rising burden of
this disease.
India is now in a demographic transition
period, with a fast-expanding elderly
population. Life expectancy in India has
nearly doubled, rising from 36.98 years in
1950-1960 to 69.27 years in 2015-2020
(Amini et al., 2019; Chandra et al., 1998;
Pritchard, 1999; Sarangi et al., 2021).
According to the 2011 census, India's old
population stood for 103.9 million, up from
5.63 million in 1961. The decadal rise in the
old population was 35.5% from 2001 to 2011,
compared to only 23.9% from 1951 to
1961(Mazzotti et al., 2012; Naranjo, 1992;
Singhai et al., 2020; Vasantharekha et al.,
2017). This increase has been ascribed to
changes in mortality rates, the creation of
basic health facilities, economic growth, and
an increase in literacy rates. Dementia is a
progressive decline in cognitive function that
affects memory, thinking, and behavior. In
India, it is estimated that there are currently
around 4 million people living with dementia,
and this number is expected to increase to
around 7.7 million by 2030 (Chowdhary et
al., 2021; Parle et al., 2005; Verma & Asopa,
2018). The prevalence of dementia in South
Asia was 1.9% in 2005, and in 2020 it was
3.6 million and expected to rise by7.5 million
by 2040 (Bhalsing et al., 2013; Ru et al.,
2021; Salahuddin et al., 2020). Dementia has
a varied incidence rate in India, ranging from
2 per 1000 to 35 per 1000 people, according
to epidemiological studies (de Villiers, 1983;
Lakshman et al., 2016; Taquet et al., 2022).
One of the main risk factors for developing
dementia in India is age. As the population
ages, the number of people with dementia is
expected to rise (Anjana et al., 2021; Iype et
al., 2009; Rao et al., 2020; Rektor et al.,
2018). In addition, lifestyle factors such as a
lack of physical activity, poor diet, and
chronic conditions such as diabetes and
hypertension also increase the risk of
developing dementia (Agarwal & Tripathi,
2014; Chaudhuri et al., 2020; Ghosh et al.,
2019; Hirokawa et al., 2022). The prevalence
of dementia in India is increasing due to the
country’s rapidly aging population.
Currently, it is estimated that there are around
4 million people living with dementia in
India, and this number is projected to rise to
nearly 14 million by 2050 (Gulia & Kumar,
2018; Lahiri et al., 2019; Smith et al., 2021;
Vancampfort et al., 2019). The high burden
of dementia in India is due to a combination
of factors, including demographic changes,
lifestyle factors, and the increasing
prevalence of risk factors such as
hypertension, diabetes, and depression
(Malapur et al., 2021; Rangarajan et al.,
2021).
However, it is important to note that
dementia is often underdiagnosed and
underreported in India, so the true prevalence
of the disease may be higher than what is
currently estimated (Bateman et al., 2016;
Chen et al., 2016; Kandiah et al., 2021).
Despite the growing burden of dementia in
India, the country still lacks adequate
resources and infrastructure to meet the needs
of people with the disease and their families
(Aggarwal et al., 2022; Emmady et al., 2022).
There is a need for increased investment in
dementia research, diagnosis, care, and
support services to address this growing
public health challenge.
There are several different types of dementia,
including Alzheimer’s disease, vascular
dementia, and Lewy body
dementia(Mohandas & Rajmohan, 2009;
Mukherjee et al., 2017; Narayanan et al.,
2020; Saldanha et al., 2010; Tripathi et al.,
2001; Vijayakumar & Vijayakumar, 2013).
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common
form of dementia, accounting for around 60-
70% of cases.
In India, the diagnosis and treatment of
dementia are often inadequate. Many people
with dementia do not receive a proper
diagnosis, and even when they do, they may
not receive appropriate treatment. This is
partly due to a lack of awareness and
understanding of dementia, as well as a lack
of trained healthcare professionals who can
diagnose and treat the condition.
One of the main challenges in addressing
dementia in India is the lack of government
funding and resources devoted to research
and care. This makes it difficult to develop
effective policies and programs to address the
growing problem of dementia.
There is also a lack of support for caregivers
in India. Many families take on the primary
responsibility of caring for a loved one with
dementia, which can be emotionally and
physically draining. This puts a strain on
families and can lead to neglect or abuse of
people with dementia.
Despite these challenges, there are steps that
can be taken to address dementia in India.
One important step is to raise awareness of
the condition and its impact on individuals
and families. This can be done through public
education campaigns and by training
healthcare professionals to recognize and
diagnose dementia. Another important step is
to provide support and resources for
caregivers. This can include providing
training on how to care for a person with
dementia, as well as support groups and
respite care services.
In conclusion, dementia is a growing problem
in India, and it is important that steps are
taken to address the issue. This includes
raising awareness of the condition, providing
support for caregivers and proper diagnosis
and treatment. Addressing dementia in India
will require a comprehensive and coordinated
effort involving government, healthcare
professionals, and the community.
FUNDING
This study gained no particular financial
support from any agencies.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
DECLARATION OF COMPETING
INTEREST
None.
REFERENCES:
Agarwal, R., & Tripathi, C. B. (2014).
Association of apolipoprotein E genetic
variation in Alzheimer’s disease in Indian
population: a meta-analysis. American
Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other
Dementias, 29(7), 575582.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1533317514531443
Aggarwal, H., Chaware, S., & Aggarwal, H.
(2022). A Critical Study on the Impact of
Dementia on Older People Undergoing
Treatment in Care Homes. Cureus, 14(10),
e30056.
https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.30056
Amini, M., Zayeri, F., & Moghaddam, S. S.
(2019). Years Lived with Disability due to
Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias in
Asian and North African Countries: A Trend
Analysis. Journal of Epidemiology and
Global Health, 9(1), 2935.
https://doi.org/10.2991/jegh.k.190305.002
Anjana, N. K. N., Annie, T. T., Siba, S.,
Meenu, M. S., Chintha, S., & Anish, T. S. N.
(2021). Manifestations and risk factors of
post COVID syndrome among COVID-19
patients presented with minimal symptoms -
A study from Kerala, India. Journal of
Family Medicine and Primary Care, 10(11),
40234029.
https://doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_851_21
Bateman, R. M., Sharpe, M. D., Jagger, J. E.,
Ellis, C. G., Solé-Violán, J., López-
Rodríguez, M., Herrera-Ramos, E., Ruíz-
Hernández, J., Borderías, L., Horcajada, J.,
González-Quevedo, N., Rajas, O., Briones,
M., Rodríguez de Castro, F., Rodríguez
Gallego, C., Esen, F., Orhun, G., Ergin
Ozcan, P., Senturk, E., … Prandi, E. (2016).
36th International Symposium on Intensive
Care and Emergency Medicine : Brussels,
Belgium. 15-18 March 2016. In Critical care
(London, England) (Vol. 20, Issue Suppl 2, p.
94). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13054-016-
1208-6
Bhalsing, K., Suresh, K., Muthane, U. B., &
Pal, P. K. (2013). Prevalence and profile of
Restless Legs Syndrome in Parkinson’s
disease and other neurodegenerative
disorders: a case-control study. Parkinsonism
& Related Disorders, 19(4), 426430.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.parkreldis.2012.12.
005
Brainin, M., Feigin, V., Bath, P. M.,
Collantes, E., Martins, S., Pandian, J., Sacco,
R., & Teuschl, Y. (2019). Multi-level
community interventions for primary stroke
prevention: A conceptual approach by the
World Stroke Organization. International
Journal of Stroke : Official Journal of the
International Stroke Society, 14(8), 818
825.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1747493019873706
Chandra, V., Ganguli, M., Pandav, R.,
Johnston, J., Belle, S., & DeKosky, S. T.
(1998). Prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease
and other dementias in rural India: the Indo-
US study. Neurology, 51(4), 10001008.
https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.51.4.1000
Chaudhuri, J. R., Mridula, K. R.,
Rathnakishore, C., Anamika, A., Samala, N.
R., Balaraju, B., & Bandaru, V. S. (2020).
Association Serum S100B Protein in
Alzheimer’s Disease: A Case Control Study
from South India. Current Alzheimer
Research, 17(12), 10951101.
https://doi.org/10.2174/15672050186662101
19145104
Chen, C., Homma, A., Mok, V. C. T.,
Krishnamoorthy, E., Alladi, S., Meguro, K.,
Abe, K., Dominguez, J., Marasigan, S.,
Kandiah, N., Kim, S. Y., Lee, D. Y., De
Silva, H. A., Yang, Y.-H., Pai, M.-C.,
Senanarong, V., & Dash, A. (2016).
Alzheimer’s disease with cerebrovascular
disease: current status in the Asia-Pacific
region. Journal of Internal Medicine, 280(4),
359374. https://doi.org/10.1111/joim.12495
Cheng, H. G., Shidhaye, R., Charlson, F.,
Deng, F., Lyngdoh, T., Chen, S., Nanda, S.,
Lacroix, K., Baxter, A., & Whiteford, H.
(2016). Social correlates of mental,
neurological, and substance use disorders in
China and India: a review. The Lancet.
Psychiatry, 3(9), 882899.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-
0366(16)30166-3
Chowdhary, N., Barbui, C., Anstey, K. J.,
Kivipelto, M., Barbera, M., Peters, R.,
Zheng, L., Kulmala, J., Stephen, R., Ferri, C.
P., Joanette, Y., Wang, H., Comas-Herrera,
A., Alessi, C., Suharya Dy, K., Mwangi, K.
J., Petersen, R. C., Motala, A. A., Mendis, S.,
Dua, T. (2021). Reducing the Risk of
Cognitive Decline and Dementia: WHO
Recommendations. Frontiers in Neurology,
12, 765584.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2021.765584
Das, S., Hazra, A., Ray, B. K., Ghosal, M.,
Banerjee, T. K., Roy, T., Chaudhuri, A.,
Raut, D. K., & Das, S. K. (2010). Burden
among stroke caregivers: results of a
community-based study from Kolkata, India.
Stroke, 41(12), 29652968.
https://doi.org/10.1161/STROKEAHA.110.
589598
de Villiers, J. C. (1983). Cysticercosis of the
nervous system. South African Medical
Journal = Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif Vir
Geneeskunde, 63(20), 769772.
Emmady, P. D., Schoo, C., & Tadi, P. (2022).
Major Neurocognitive Disorder (Dementia).
Gallagher, S., Phillips, A. C., Drayson, M. T.,
& Carroll, D. (2009). Caregiving for children
with developmental disabilities is associated
with a poor antibody response to influenza
vaccination. Psychosomatic Medicine, 71(3),
341344.
https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0b013e31819d1
910
Ghoge, H., Sharma, S., Sonawalla, S., &
Parikh, R. (2003). Cerebrovascular diseases
and depression. Current Psychiatry Reports,
5(3), 231238.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-003-0048-7
Ghosh, S., Sinha, J. K., & Raghunath, M.
(2019). “Obesageing”: Linking obesity &
ageing. The Indian Journal of Medical
Research, 149(5), 610615.
https://doi.org/10.4103/ijmr.IJMR_2120_18
Görpelioğlu, S., Emiroğlu, C., Suvak, Ö.,
Aypak, C., & Akbıyık, D. (2018). Assesssing
an unmet healthcare demand: A survey of
immunisation among homecare patients and
their caregivers. Vaccine, 36(12), 1660
1663.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2018.01.08
8
Gulia, K. K., & Kumar, V. M. (2018). Sleep
disorders in the elderly: a growing challenge.
Psychogeriatrics : The Official Journal of the
Japanese Psychogeriatric Society, 18(3),
155165.
https://doi.org/10.1111/psyg.12319
Hirokawa, K., Kasuga, A., Matsumoto, K.,
Omori, Y., Masui, Y., Nakagawa, T., Ogawa,
M., Ishioka, Y., Inagaki, H., Ikebe, K., Arai,
Y., Ishizaki, T., Kamide, K., & Gondo, Y.
(2022). Associations between salivary
testosterone levels and cognitive function
among 70-year-old Japanese elderly: A
cross-sectional analysis of the SONIC study.
Geriatrics & Gerontology International,
22(12), 10401046.
https://doi.org/10.1111/ggi.14504
Iype, T., Shaji, S. K., Balakrishnan, A.,
Charles, D., Varghese, A. A., & Antony, T.
P. (2009). Cognition in type 2 diabetes:
Association with vascular risk factors,
complications of diabetes and depression.
Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology,
12(1), 2527. https://doi.org/10.4103/0972-
2327.48848
Jacob, M. E., Abraham, V. J., Abraham, S.,
& Jacob, K. S. (2007). The effect of
community based daycare on mental health
and quality of life of elderly in rural south
India: a community intervention study.
International Journal of Geriatric
Psychiatry, 22(5), 445447.
https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.1706
Kandiah, N., Chan, Y. F., Chen, C., Dasig,
D., Dominguez, J., Han, S.-H., Jia, J., Kim,
S., Limpawattana, P., Ng, L.-L., Nguyen, D.
T., Ong, P. A., Raya-Ampil, E., Saedon, N.,
Senanarong, V., Setiati, S., Singh, H.,
Suthisisang, C., Trang, T. M., Ihl, R.
(2021). Strategies for the use of Ginkgo
biloba extract, EGb 761(®) , in the treatment
and management of mild cognitive
impairment in Asia: Expert consensus. CNS
Neuroscience & Therapeutics, 27(2), 149
162. https://doi.org/10.1111/cns.13536
Khan, S., Barve, K. H., & Kumar, M. S.
(2020). Recent Advancements in
Pathogenesis, Diagnostics and Treatment of
Alzheimer’s Disease. Current
Neuropharmacology, 18(11), 11061125.
https://doi.org/10.2174/1570159X18666200
528142429
Lahiri, D., Pattnaik, S., Bhat, A., Dubey, S.,
Biswas, A., & Roy, B. K. (2019). Young-
onset sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
with atypical phenotypic features: a case
report. Journal of Medical Case Reports,
13(1), 163. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-
019-2089-5
Lakshman, S. G. S., Ravikumar, P., Kar, G.,
Das, D., Bhattacharjee, K., & Bhattacharjee,
P. (2016). A Comparative Study of
Neurological Complications in Chronic
Kidney Disease with Special Reference to its
Stages and Haemodialysis Status. Journal of
Clinical and Diagnostic Research : JCDR,
10(12), OC01OC04.
https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2016/22815.8
947
Malapur, P. U., Kumar, N., Khandelwal, S.
K., & Tripathi, M. (2021). Cost of Illness of
Major Neurocognitive Disorders in India.
Neurology India, 69(5), 12651268.
https://doi.org/10.4103/0028-3886.329606
Mazzotti, D. R., Guindalini, C., Sosa, A. L.,
Ferri, C. P., & Tufik, S. (2012). Prevalence
and correlates for sleep complaints in older
adults in low and middle income countries: a
10/66 Dementia Research Group study. Sleep
Medicine, 13(6), 697702.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2012.02.009
Mohandas, E., & Rajmohan, V. (2009).
Frontotemporal dementia: An updated
overview. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 51
Suppl 1(Suppl1), S65-9.
Mukherjee, A., Biswas, A., Roy, A., Biswas,
S., Gangopadhyay, G., & Das, S. K. (2017).
Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of
Dementia: Correlates and Impact on
Caregiver Distress. Dementia and Geriatric
Cognitive Disorders Extra, 7(3), 354365.
https://doi.org/10.1159/000481568
Naranjo, P. (1992). Epidemic hecatomb in
the New World. Allergy Proceedings : The
Official Journal of Regional and State
Allergy Societies, 13(5), 237241.
https://doi.org/10.2500/10885419277881711
2
Narayanan, S. E., Sekhar, N., Rajamma, R.
G., Marathakam, A., Al Mamun, A., Uddin,
M. S., & Mathew, B. (2020). Exploring the
Role of Aggregated Proteomes in the
Pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s Disease.
Current Protein & Peptide Science, 21(12),
11641173.
https://doi.org/10.2174/13892037216662009
21152246
Parle, M., Vasudevan, M., & Singh, N.
(2005). Swim everyday to keep dementia
away. Journal of Sports Science & Medicine,
4(1), 3746.
Pathak, A., & Biswal, R. (2021). Caregiver’s
perspective in the RPWD Act (2016) of
India. In Asian journal of psychiatry (Vol. 56,
p. 102544).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2020.102544
Perkins, L., Fisher, E., Felstead, C., Rooney,
C., Wong, G. H. Y., Dai, R., Vaitheswaran,
S., Natarajan, N., Mograbi, D. C., Ferri, C. P.,
Stott, J., & Spector, A. (2022). Delivering
Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST)
Virtually: Developing and Field-Testing a
New Framework. Clinical Interventions in
Aging, 17, 97116.
https://doi.org/10.2147/CIA.S348906
Prince, M. J., Ebrahim, S., Acosta, D., Ferri,
C. P., Guerra, M., Huang, Y., Jacob, K. S.,
Jimenez-Velazquez, I. Z., Rodriguez, J. L.,
Salas, A., Sosa, A. L., Williams, J. D.,
Gonzalez-Viruet, M., Jotheeswaran, A. T., &
Liu, Z. (2012). Hypertension prevalence,
awareness, treatment and control among
older people in Latin America, India and
China: a 10/66 cross-sectional population-
based survey. Journal of Hypertension,
30(1), 177187.
https://doi.org/10.1097/HJH.0b013e32834d9
eda
Pritchard, E. (1999). Old age provides new
problems. Nursing Standard (Royal College
of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987), 13(18),
22. https://doi.org/10.7748/ns.13.18.22.s35
Rangarajan, S. K., Sivakumar, P. T.,
Manjunatha, N., Kumar, C. N., & Math, S. B.
(2021). Public Health Perspectives of
Geriatric Mental Health Care. Indian Journal
of Psychological Medicine, 43(5 Suppl), S1
S7.
https://doi.org/10.1177/02537176211047963
Rao, A. R., Chatterjee, P., Thakral, M.,
Dwivedi, S. N., & Dey, A. B. (2020).
Behavioural issues in late life may be the
precursor of dementia- A cross sectional
evidence from memory clinic of AIIMS,
India. PloS One, 15(6), e0234514.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.023451
4
Rektor, I., Bohnen, N. I., Korczyn, A. D.,
Gryb, V., Kumar, H., Kramberger, M. G., de
Leeuw, F.-E., Pirtošek, Z., Rektorová, I.,
Schlesinger, I., Slawek, J., Valkovič, P., &
Veselý, B. (2018). An updated diagnostic
approach to subtype definition of vascular
parkinsonism - Recommendations from an
expert working group. Parkinsonism &
Related Disorders, 49, 916.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.parkreldis.2017.12.
030
Robertson, K., Jiang, H., Evans, S. R., Marra,
C. M., Berzins, B., Hakim, J., Sacktor, N.,
Silva, M. T., Campbell, T. B., Nair, A.,
Schouten, J., Kumwenda, J., Supparatpinyo,
K., Tripathy, S., Kumarasamy, N., la Rosa,
A., Montano, S., Mwafongo, A., Firnhaber,
C., … Walawander, A. (2016). International
neurocognitive normative study:
neurocognitive comparison data in diverse
resource-limited settings: AIDS Clinical
Trials Group A5271. Journal of
Neurovirology, 22(4), 472478.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13365-015-0415-2
Ru, M., Brauer, M., Lamarque, J.-F., &
Shindell, D. (2021). Exploration of the
Global Burden of Dementia Attributable to
PM2.5: What Do We Know Based on
Current Evidence? GeoHealth, 5(5),
e2020GH000356.
https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GH000356
Salahuddin, M., Manzar, M. D., Hassen, H.
Y., Unissa, A., Abdul Hameed, U., Spence,
D. W., & Pandi-Perumal, S. R. (2020).
Prevalence and Predictors of Neurocognitive
Impairment in Ethiopian Population Living
with HIV. HIV/AIDS (Auckland, N.Z.), 12,
559572.
https://doi.org/10.2147/HIV.S260831
Saldanha, D., Mani, M. R., Srivastava, K.,
Goyal, S., & Bhattacharya, D. (2010). An
epidemiological study of dementia under the
aegis of mental health program,
Maharashtra, Pune chapter. Indian Journal of
Psychiatry, 52(2), 131139.
https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5545.64588
Sarangi, S. C., Sopory, P., & Reeta, K. H.
(2021). Chronic Neurological Disorders:
Genetic and Epigenetic Markers for
Monitoring of Pharmacotherapy. Neurology
India, 69(2), 252259.
https://doi.org/10.4103/0028-3886.314522
Singhai, K., Suthar, N., & Gehlawat, P.
(2020). The 3 Ds of geriatric psychiatry: A
case report. In Journal of family medicine
and primary care (Vol. 9, Issue 5, pp. 2509
2510).
https://doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_221_20
Smith, L., Jacob, L., López-Sánchez, G. F.,
Butler, L., Barnett, Y., Veronese, N., Soysal,
P., Yang, L., Grabovac, I., Tully, M. A., Shin,
J. Il, & Koyanagi, A. (2021). Anxiety
symptoms and mild cognitive impairment
among community-dwelling older adults
from low- and middle-income countries.
Journal of Affective Disorders, 291, 5764.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.04.076
Sosa, A. L., Albanese, E., Stephan, B. C. M.,
Dewey, M., Acosta, D., Ferri, C. P., Guerra,
M., Huang, Y., Jacob, K. S., Jiménez-
Velázquez, I. Z., Rodriguez, J. J. L., Salas,
A., Williams, J., Acosta, I., González-Viruet,
M., Hernandez, M. A. G., Shuran, L., Prince,
M. J., & Stewart, R. (2012). Prevalence,
distribution, and impact of mild cognitive
impairment in Latin America, China, and
India: a 10/66 population-based study. PLoS
Medicine, 9(2), e1001170.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.100117
0
Srivastava, S., & Muhammad, T. (2022).
Prevalence and risk factors of fall-related
injury among older adults in India: evidence
from a cross-sectional observational study.
BMC Public Health, 22(1), 550.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-12975-7
Taquet, M., Sillett, R., Zhu, L., Mendel, J.,
Camplisson, I., Dercon, Q., & Harrison, P. J.
(2022). Neurological and psychiatric risk
trajectories after SARS-CoV-2 infection: an
analysis of 2-year retrospective cohort
studies including 1 284 437 patients. The
Lancet. Psychiatry, 9(10), 815827.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-
0366(22)00260-7
Tripathi, M., Sheshadri, S., Padma, M. V,
Jain, S., Meheshwari, M. C., & Behari, M.
(2001). Serum cobalamin levels in
dementias. Neurology India, 49(3), 284286.
Vancampfort, D., Stubbs, B., Firth, J., Smith,
L., Swinnen, N., & Koyanagi, A. (2019).
Associations between handgrip strength and
mild cognitive impairment in middle-aged
and older adults in six low- and middle-
income countries. International Journal of
Geriatric Psychiatry, 34(4), 609616.
https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.5061
Vasantharekha, R., Priyanka, H. P.,
Swarnalingam, T., Srinivasan, A. V., &
ThyagaRajan, S. (2017). Interrelationship
between Mini-Mental State Examination
scores and biochemical parameters in
patients with mild cognitive impairment and
Alzheimer’s disease. Geriatrics &
Gerontology International, 17(10), 1737
1745. https://doi.org/10.1111/ggi.12957
Venugopal, A., Vaid, N. R., Jay Bowman, S.,
& Ludwig, B. (2022). A false sense of
competence. In British dental journal (Vol.
232, Issue 6, p. 356).
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-022-4109-x
Verma, P., & Asopa, R. V. (2018). Incidental
Global Hypometabolism in the Brain of
Patient with AIDS-related Dementia Seen on
18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission
Tomography/Computed Tomography.
Indian Journal of Nuclear Medicine : IJNM :
The Official Journal of the Society of
Nuclear Medicine, India, 33(1), 7375.
https://doi.org/10.4103/ijnm.IJNM_108_17
Vijayakumar, A., & Vijayakumar, A. (2013).
Comparison of hippocampal volume in
dementia subtypes. ISRN Radiology, 2013,
174524.
https://doi.org/10.5402/2013/174524
Villarreal, A. E., Grajales, S., O’Bryant, S.
E., Edwards, M., López, L., Montalván, A.,
& Britton, G. B. (2016). Characterization of
Alzheimer’s Disease and Mild Cognitive
Impairment in Older Adults in Panama.
Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease : JAD, 54(3),
897901. https://doi.org/10.3233/JAD-
160402
Vollmar, H. C., Thyrian, J. R., LaMantia, M.
A., Alder, C. A., Guerriero Austrom,
M. M., Callahan, C., Leve, V.,
Hoffmann, W., & Boustani, M. (2016).
[Aging Brain Care Program from
Indianapolis: Transferability to the
German healthcare system]. Zeitschrift
fur Gerontologie und Geriatrie, 49(1),
3236. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00391-
015-0904-1
Chapter
We will explore the literature on therapeutic approaches for working with people living with dementia symptoms, as well as existing interventions for BPSD. Both of these areas will be explored within the context of a global community, by grounding our discussion in WHO’s Global Action Plan on Dementia (GAP). We will place the concepts of dementia – first, as a medical diagnosis and second, as the lived experiences with dementia symptoms – on a global stage by exploring GAP’s seven action steps within the context of three counties: Japan, India, and the United States. A comprehensive review of dementia will prepare us for moving into what we can consider as a pre-diagnosis phase: testing, screening, and assessment. We will pay particular attention to cultural relevance and appropriateness of cognitive assessments. We will then move our discussion to the post-diagnosis process by discussing death, dementia, loss, and life. We will gain and strengthen our understanding of several therapeutic approaches that can be adopted to support the dementia grief integration process. By exploring the historical roots of attachment theory and the roles the self-other dyad plays in living with dementia symptoms, we will be prepared to conceptualize the process of change from micro to macro levels. We will conclude this chapter by considering necessary and important areas of dementia grief work.
Article
Full-text available
Background Falls and related injuries in older ages have become a major public health problem. This study aims to identify the prevalence of self-reported fall-related injury and to describe risk factors associated with fall-related injury among older adults in India. Method The study used data from the "Building Knowledge Base on Population Ageing in India" (BKPAI), which was carried out in seven major states in India (2011). Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the prevalence and risk factors of fall-related injury among older people. Results The study found that 3.6% of older adults had a fall-related injury. Older adults with walk difficulty had a significantly higher likelihood of reporting fall-related injuries in comparison to their counterparts [adjusted odds ratio (AOR):1.80; confidence interval (CI): 1.38–2.36]. Older adults who consumed alcohol had significantly higher odds of reporting fall-related injuries than those who did not consume alcohol [AOR: 1.97; CI: 1.31–2.97]. Poor self-rated health was another risk factor for fall-related injury [AOR: 1.24; CI: 1.05–1.61]. Further, older adults with dementia were 2.15 times significantly more likely to report fall-related injuries than older adults with no dementia [AOR: 2.15; CI: 1.03–5.05]. Also, older women compared to men were 98% significantly more likely to report fall-related injury [AOR: 1.98; CI: 1.43–2.75]. The odds of reporting fall-related injury was significantly higher among those who had a secondary level education compared to those with no education [AOR: 1.44; CI: 1.01–2.06]. Conclusions Walking disabilities, alcohol consumption, poor self-rated health, dementia, and female gender were found to be the risk factors for fall-related injury among older adults. The results highlight the importance of improving physical as well as mental health of older individuals including dementia in terms of reducing the risk of experiencing fall-related injury.
Article
Full-text available
Purpose This feasibility and pilot study aimed to develop and field-test a 14-session virtual Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (vCST) programme for people living with dementia, developed as a result of services moving online during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods The vCST protocol was developed using the existing group CST manual, through stakeholder consultation with people living with dementia, caregivers, CST group facilitators and dementia service managers. This protocol was then field-tested with 10 groups of people living with dementia in the Brazil, China (Hong Kong), India, Ireland and the UK, and feedback on the protocol was gathered from 14 facilitators. Results Field testing in five countries indicated acceptability to group facilitators and participants. Feedback from these groups was used to refine the developed protocol. The final vCST protocol is proposed, including session materials for delivery of CST over videoconferencing and a framework for offering CST virtually in global settings. Conclusion vCST is a feasible online intervention for many people living with dementia. We recommend that it is offered to those unable to access traditional in-person CST for health reasons, lack of transport or COVID-19 restrictions. Further research is needed to explore if participant outcomes are comparable to in-person CST groups.
Article
Full-text available
With population ageing worldwide, dementia poses one of the greatest global challenges for health and social care in the 21st century. In 2019, around 55 million people were affected by dementia, with the majority living in low- and middle-income countries. Dementia leads to increased costs for governments, communities, families and individuals. Dementia is overwhelming for the family and caregivers of the person with dementia, who are the cornerstone of care and support systems throughout the world. To assist countries in addressing the global burden of dementia, the World Health Organisation (WHO) developed the Global Action Plan on the Public Health Response to Dementia 2017–2025. It proposes actions to be taken by governments, civil society, and other global and regional partners across seven action areas, one of which is dementia risk reduction. This paper is based on WHO Guidelines on risk reduction of cognitive decline and dementia and presents recommendations on evidence-based, multisectoral interventions for reducing dementia risks, considerations for their implementation and policy actions. These global evidence-informed recommendations were developed by WHO, following a rigorous guideline development methodology and involved a panel of academicians and clinicians with multidisciplinary expertise and representing geographical diversity. The recommendations are considered under three broad headings: lifestyle and behaviour interventions, interventions for physical health conditions and specific interventions. By supporting health and social care professionals, particularly by improving their capacity to provide gender and culturally appropriate interventions to the general population, the risk of developing dementia can be potentially reduced, or its progression delayed.
Article
Full-text available
Background: COVID 19 is associated with the development of post COVID syndrome usually manifested as fatigue, anxiety, joint pain, headache, chest pain, dementia, depression, and dyspnea. Documented evidence of post COVID syndrome among patients with asymptomatic or mild infections, especially from India is less. Methodology: A community based prospective cohort study was conducted among 154 patients admitted in CFLTCs of coastal Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala during May-August 2020. They were enrolled at the time of their admission to CFLTCs and were followed up for three months after discharge. The discharged patients were followed up at regular intervals of three weeks and three months by telephonic interview using a structured proforma. Results: Out of the 154 patients followed up, 57 (37%) were men and 97 (63%) were women. The mean (SD) age of study participants was 31.49 (18.4) years. At least one symptom was present in 120 (78.0%) patients at the time of admission. Cough (29, 18.8%), fever (26, 16.8%), headache (25, 16.2%), rhinitis (23,14.9%) and sore throat (18, 11.7%) were the major symptoms reported at the time of admission. At the end of three weeks, 11 (7.1%) patients and at the end of three months 18 (11.7%) patients reported to have symptoms. Fatigue (5.8%), headache (5.8%) myalgia (3.2%) joint pain (2.5%) and exertional dyspnea (2.5%) were the predominant symptoms. Presence of fatigue, cough and breathlessness at the time of admission, and presence of another COVID positive family member were significantly associated with the appearance of post COVID symptoms. Conclusion: Post COVID syndrome is not uncommon in COVID 19 patients with minimal symptoms. Understanding long term consequences of COVID 19 is as important as management of acute COVID 19 due to its multisystem involvement and its implications on health and well-being.
Article
Full-text available
Background In older adults (aged 60 years and above), mental health problems are gaining public health importance because of the increasing prevalence, disease burden, disability, morbidity, and mortality. Epidemiological studies on major mental health disorders such as depression and dementia in older adults have contributed to a better understanding of the distribution and determinants of these conditions. Identifying potential risk factors has stimulated interventional research on preventing these conditions under the public health framework towards their management. The increasing burden of geriatric mental health conditions like dementia in developing countries like India can contribute to significant challenges if there is no adequate strengthening of the public health response. This includes scaling up the measures of prevention, public awareness, early diagnosis, and quality health and social care equitably available to all sections of the population. The Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021–2030) provides the opportunity for concerted and coordinated initiatives to improve intrinsic capacity (physical and mental) and offer an age-friendly environment to enhance the functional ability of all older adults. Methods This article reviews the critical public health issues related to geriatric mental health in India.
Article
Full-text available
Exposure to ambient PM2.5 pollution has been linked to multiple adverse health effects. Additional effects have been identified in the literature and there is a need to understand its potential role in high prevalence diseases. In response to recent indications of PM2.5 as a risk factor for dementia, we examine the evidence by systematically reviewing the epidemiologic literature, in relation to exposure from ambient air pollution, household air pollution, secondhand smoke, and active smoking. We develop preliminary exposure‐response functions, estimate the uncertainty, and discuss sensitivities and model selection. We estimate the likely impact to be 2.1 M (1.4 M, 2.5 M; 5%–95% confidence) global incident dementia cases and 0.6 M (0.4 M, 0.8 M) deaths attributable to ambient PM2.5 pollution in 2015. This implies a combined toll from morbidity and mortality of dementia of 7.3 M (5.0 M, 9.1 M) lost disability‐adjusted life years. China, Japan, India, and the United States had the highest estimated total burden, and the per capita burden was highest in developed countries with large elderly populations. Compared to 2000, most countries in Europe, the Americas, and Southern Africa reduced the burden in 2015, while other regions had a net increase. Based on a recent systematic review of cost of illness studies for dementia, our estimates imply economic costs of US$ 26 billion worldwide in 2015. Based on this estimation, ambient PM2.5 pollution may be responsible for 15% of premature deaths and 7% of DALYs associated with dementia. Our estimates also indicate substantial uncertainty in this relationship, and future epidemiological studies at high exposure levels are especially needed.
Article
Background: Major neurocognitive disorders (major NCD) predominantly affect the elderly. Major NCD results in significant morbidity and socioeconomic burden. Objectives: To estimate the individual cost of care of a person with major NCD according to disease severity and component costs. Methods and material: Fifty patients of major NCD with primary caregivers attending memory clinic of tertiary care center were included. A detailed questionnaire administered after inclusion provided demographic and clinical information. Caregivers were interviewed about details of care provided. Cognitive function was assessed by Hindi mental state examination (HMSE), and major NCD severity was determined by clinical dementia rating scale (CDR). Results: The annual cost of care per patient with mild to moderate and severe major MCD was INR 78288 and INR 167808, respectively. Costs increased with increasing severity of the disease. Direct nonmedical costs were significantly higher than direct medical costs in severe major NCD group and vice versa was found in mild to moderate major NCD group. Conclusion: Increasing population of elderly and prevalence of major NCD suggest an economic burden on caring families and hence the government. Comprehensive health policy toward providing affordable care to people with major NCD is the need of the hour.
Article
Aim : Anxiety may be a risk factor for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) but there is a scarcity of data on this association especially from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Thus, we investigated the association between anxiety and MCI among older adults residing in six LMICs (China, Ghana, India, Mexico, Russia, South Africa), and the mediational effect of sleep problems in this association. Methods : Cross-sectional, community-based, nationally representative data from the WHO Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) were analyzed. The definition of MCI was based on the National Institute on Ageing-Alzheimer's Association criteria. Multivariable logistic regression analysis, meta-analysis, and mediation analysis were conducted to assess associations. Results : The final sample included 32,715 individuals aged ≥50 years with preservation in functional abilities [mean (standard deviation) age 62.1 (15.6) years; 48.3% males]. Country-wise analysis showed a positive association between anxiety and MCI in all countries (OR 1.35-14.33). The pooled estimate based on meta-analysis with random effects was OR=2.27 (95%CI=1.35-3.83). Sleep problems explained 41.1% of this association. Conclusions : Older adults with anxiety had higher odds for MCI in LMICs. Future studies should examine whether preventing anxiety or addressing anxiety among individuals with MCI can lead to lower risk for dementia onset in LMICs, while the role of sleep problems in this association should be investigated in detail.
Article
Introduction: Chronic neurological diseases are a major cause of mortality and morbidity in the world. With increasing life expectancy in the developing world, the incidence and prevalence of these diseases are predicted to rise even further. This has also contributed to an increase in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for noncommunicable diseases. Treatment for such diseases also poses a challenge with multiple genetic and epigenetic factors leading to a varied outcome. Personalization of treatment is one way that treatment outcome/prognosis of disease can be improved, and pharmacogenomics plays a significant role in this context. Methodology: This article reviewed the evidence pertaining to the association of genetic and epigenetic markers with major neurological disorders like multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and Parkinson's disease (PD), which are a major source of burden among neurological disorders. Types of studies included are peer-reviewed original research articles from the PubMed database (1999-2018). Results: This study compiled data regarding specific genetic and epigenetic markers with a significant correlation between the clinical diagnosis of the disease and prognosis of therapy from 65 studies. In a single platform, this review highlights the clues to some vital questions, such as why interferon beta (IFN-β) therapy fails to improve symptoms in all MS patients? why cholinesterase inhibitors fail to improve cognitive impairment in a subset of people suffering from AD? or why some individuals on levodopa (L-DOPA) for PD suffer from side-effects ranging from dyskinesia to hallucination while others do not? Conclusion: This article summarizes the genetic and epigenetic factors that may either require monitoring or help in deciding future pharmacotherapy in a patient suffering from MS, AD, and PD. As the health care system develops and reaches newer heights, we expect more and more of these biomarkers to be used as pharmacotherapeutic outcome indicators.