Numbers of European dementia cases ‘starting to stabilise’

A new report from the University of Cambridge has offered evidence that the number of dementia cases in western Europe is not increasing as fast as feared.

The study has indicated that the number of people with dementia – both in terms of new cases and total numbers of people with the disease – appears to be stabilising in some western European countries, despite populations ageing.

A review of dementia occurrence in five studies in the UK, Sweden, Spain and the Netherlands between 2007 and 2013 showed stable or reduced prevalence at specific ages over the past few decades.

This evidence contradicts widespread expectations that the prevalence of dementia will increase dramatically across the developed world in the coming years as average life expectancies increase.

The report also suggested that identifying specific medications for younger people who are at an elevated risk of developing dementia later in life may be a more effective strategy than researching specific targeted cures for the smaller group who are already developing the condition.