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Epidemiological and sociodemographic transitions in the global burden and risk factors for Alzheimer's disease and other dementias: a secondary analysis of GBD 2021
Changqing Xu, Chuanping Jiang, Xiaoxue Liu, Wenqi Shi, Jianjun Bai, Sumaira Mubarik, Fang Wang. International Journal for Equity in Health, 2025-05-24
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Globally, 9.84 million cases of ADOD occurred in 2021, with 1.95 million ADOD-related deaths, causing 36.33 million DALYs. ADOD incidence, mortality and DALYs all increased from 1990 to 2021. Regional and sex variations persisted, with the fastest increase in age-standardized death rate in low-middle SDI quintiles, experienced the highest estimated annual percentage changes (0.41[0.31,0.52]). The incidence of ADOD increased more rapidly as SDI increased in areas that have historically shown lower incidence compared to other areas. In regions with higher mortality or DALYs burden, these indicators decreased relatively faster as SDI increased. High fasting plasma glucose was the main risk factor, particularly in high SDI region, with an increasing trend in attributable burden. The burden attributable to high BMI was increasing, whereas the burden associated with smoking steadily decreased. ADOD poses a significant and escalating challenge to healthcare sustainability, with persistent regional and gender disparities. By learning from successful ADOD management in certain nations, we can proactively reduce health burdens and bridge disparities between countries at various developmental levels.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Xu, C., Jiang, C., Liu, X., Shi, W., Bai, J., Mubarik, S., et al. (2025). Epidemiological and sociodemographic transitions in the global burden and risk factors for Alzheimer's disease and other dementias: a secondary analysis of GBD 2021. International Journal for Equity in Health. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-025-02530-2
Vancouver
Xu C, Jiang C, Liu X, Shi W, Bai J, Mubarik S, et al. Epidemiological and sociodemographic transitions in the global burden and risk factors for Alzheimer's disease and other dementias: a secondary analysis of GBD 2021. International Journal for Equity in Health. 2025. doi:10.1186/s12939-025-02530-2. PMID: 40413544.
BibTeX
@article{xu2025-40413544,
author = {Xu, Changqing and Jiang, Chuanping and Liu, Xiaoxue and Shi, Wenqi and Bai, Jianjun and Mubarik, Sumaira and Wang, Fang},
title = {{Epidemiological and sociodemographic transitions in the global burden and risk factors for Alzheimer's disease and other dementias: a secondary analysis of GBD 2021}},
journal = {International Journal for Equity in Health},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1186/s12939-025-02530-2},
pmid = {40413544},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-025-02530-2}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 7 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- Globally, 9.84 million cases of ADOD occurred in 2021, with 1.95 million ADOD-related deaths, causing 36.33 million DALYs.
- ADOD incidence, mortality and DALYs all increased from 1990 to 2021.
- Regional and sex variations persisted, with the fastest increase in age-standardized death rate in low-middle SDI quintiles, experienced the highest estimated annual percentage changes (0.41[0.31,0.52]).
- The incidence of ADOD increased more rapidly as SDI increased in areas that have historically shown lower incidence compared to other areas.
- In regions with higher mortality or DALYs burden, these indicators decreased relatively faster as SDI increased.
Why it matters
This analysis of global data found that 9.84 million cases of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias occurred in 2021, with incidence, mortality, and DALYs all increasing from 1990 to 2021. High fasting plasma glucose was the main risk factor, and the burden from high BMI was increasing while the burden from smoking steadily decreased.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 43/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (International Journal for Equity in Health) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | International Journal for Equity in Health: journal h-index 134 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 3 / 7 | Cited 15 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 5.0 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 9.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 15 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Fang Wang: h-index 48 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Groningen: institution h-index 1,383 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40413544) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 43 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1186/s12939-025-02530-2
- PubMed: 40413544
- Original source →
- Free full text: International Journal for Equity in Health →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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