Dementia in <scp>C</scp>hinese populations: Current data and future research

Abstract

Abstract This review summarizes the literature on the prevalence and incidence rates of dementia in C hinese populations, including survey results outside mainland C hina. We identified 15 prevalence studies and five incidence studies. The studies consistently reported sharply increased prevalence and incidence rates of dementia with increasing age. As estimated, there are at least 6,464,040 dementia patients in mainland C hina alone and we expect the number to rise in the coming decades. It is clear that dementia will be a new epidemic of the 21st century without major public health policies and preventive measures that target at the disease. We urge more research and hope that we will be able to prevent dementia or at least delay the onset in the near future with evidence‐based measures.