GENEVA (AP) — The World Health Organization says the number of dementia cases globally is set to triple by 2050.
The U.N. health agency says 35.6 million people worldwide currently live with dementia. That figure will double to 65.7 million by 2030 and reach 115.4 million in 2050, the WHO says.
The Geneva-based WHO says the share of dementia cases in low- and middle-income nations will rise to more than 70 percent by 2050 as those countries see surges in their older populations.
In a report published Wednesday, the agency said just eight countries have national programs to address dementia, a brain illness that affects memory, behavior and the ability to perform even common tasks.
The report recommends better support for caregivers, who usually are relatives of those with dementia.
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