Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 27, 2026

Using Retinal Imaging to Study Dementia
Published on: November 6, 2017
Global Trends and Disparities in Early-Onset Dementia: Systematic Analysis and Projection from the Global Burden of
Lishuang Zheng1, Mengxue Su2,3, Zhihui Lu1
1School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Background:
Early-onset dementia (EOD) is an escalating health concern with profound consequences for individuals and health systems. Clarifying its burden is crucial for guiding resources, advancing diagnosis and interventions, and shaping health policies.
Objective:
The aim of the study was to assess the global EOD burden based on the Global Burden of Diseases (GBD) 2021 Study.
Methods:
We analyzed the incidence, prevalence, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and deaths from EOD of people aged 40-64 years, estimating age-standardized rates and average annual percentage change (AAPC) from 1990 to 2021. The Bayesian age-period-cohort (BAPC) model was utilized to project incidence from 2022 to 2030.
Results:
From 1990 to 2021, EOD cases more than doubled globally, increasing in incidence from 0.64 to 1.38 million and in prevalence from 3.68 to 7.76 million. The global age-standardized incidence rate rose slightly from 61.22 to 64.74 per 100,000 (AAPC = 0.17%), with parallel increases in prevalence (AAPC = 0.09%), DALYs (AAPC = 0.08%), and deaths (AAPC = 0.07%). In 2021, East Asia and Tropical Latin America exhibited the highest incidence (>80/100,000), while high-income North America, East Asia, and Tropical Latin America exhibited the highest prevalence and DALY rates. The highest incidence and prevalence were in high-middle sociodemographic index (SDI) regions, while DALYs and deaths were greatest in middle SDI regions. Females generally had a higher EOD burden than males. Projections indicate minor fluctuations in age-standardized incidence rates to 2030.
Conclusion:
The global burden of EOD has increased due to population growth and aging, despite a relatively stable age-standardized incidence. Notable disparities were observed across sex, SDI levels, regions, and countries, which may be partially attributed to methodological heterogeneities. The escalating burden of EOD highlights the importance of globally raising public awareness, designing health policies, and providing better services to patients with EOD.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Dementia
The progression of dementia is generally gradual....
Alzheimer's Disease: Overview
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ...
Prevalence and Incidence
Prevalence indicates the proportion of individuals in a population who have a specific disease or health...
Alzheimer's Disease: Treatment
Factors Affecting Illness
For instance, risk factors are connected to illness,...
Bias in Epidemiological Studies

