Estimated prevalence of dementia in the Maltese Islands

Abstract

Dementia is a serious, common, world-wide neurodegenerative disease associated with severe loss of cortical brain. It is a major predictor of morbidity and mortality in the elderly costing the health services more than cardiovascular disease and cancer put together. Recent studies have also suggested that the global prevalence of dementia would double every twenty years and should reach approximately 82 million cases by the year 2040. Using EURODEM data, we report that the estimated number of individuals with dementia in the Maltese islands is 4,072. This figure is expected to almost double by the year 2035. We discuss the implications of the forecast increase in the number of people with dementia for Malta's health services and society.