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Global trends in Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias in adults aged 55 and above (1992–2021): An age-period-cohort analysis based on the GBD 2021
Qianqian Zhang, Yanwen Deng, Mo Xue, Zihan Ni, Guangyan Luo, Tian Kan. PLoS ONE, 2025-08-29
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
From 1992 to 2021, ADOD incidence among individuals aged ≥55 increased by 143.88%. The age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR) rose from 3,870.6 to 3,975.8 per 100,000. Deaths in 2021 were 1.75 times higher than in 1992. The age-standardized DALY rate was consistently higher in females, while males showed an upward trend (net drift, 0.05). APC analysis revealed the steepest incidence increase in the 60-64 age group, with earlier rises in males. Period effects indicated unfavorable incidence trends in high-middle SDI and middle-SDI regions, and similarly adverse mortality trends in high-middle and low-middle SDI regions. Projections suggest a slight increase in ASIR and ASMR by 2046, with females maintaining higher rates than males. The global burden of ADOD among individuals aged 55 years and above remains substantial, particularly in East Asia and among females. Given regional heterogeneity, this study recommends developing and implementing region-specific interventions for more effective improvements.
Key findings
- From 1992 to 2021, ADOD incidence among individuals aged ≥55 increased by 143.88%.
- The age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR) rose from 3,870.6 to 3,975.8 per 100,000.
- Deaths in 2021 were 1.75 times higher than in 1992.
- The age-standardized DALY rate was consistently higher in females, while males showed an upward trend (net drift, 0.05).
- APC analysis revealed the steepest incidence increase in the 60-64 age group, with earlier rises in males.
Why it matters
The global burden of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias among adults aged 55 and above increased substantially from 1992 to 2021, with the steepest rise in the 60-64 age group and higher rates in females. Projections suggest a slight increase in incidence and mortality by 2046, highlighting the need for region-specific interventions.
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Study details
- Effect sizeincreased by 143.88%
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 42/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, 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 (PLoS ONE) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | PLoS ONE: journal h-index 594 (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 | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” 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 | 2 / 3 | Effect reported as a number, without an interval or test |
| 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 | 2 / 7 | Cited 7 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 2.3 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 4.4× 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 | 1 / 4 | Cited 7 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Tian Kan: h-index 6 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine: institution h-index 276 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40880407) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 42 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Zhang, Q., Deng, Y., Xue, M., Ni, Z., Luo, G., & Kan, T. (2025). Global trends in Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias in adults aged 55 and above (1992–2021): An age-period-cohort analysis based on the GBD 2021. PLoS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0331204
Vancouver
Zhang Q, Deng Y, Xue M, Ni Z, Luo G, Kan T. Global trends in Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias in adults aged 55 and above (1992–2021): An age-period-cohort analysis based on the GBD 2021. PLoS ONE. 2025. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0331204. PMID: 40880407.
BibTeX
@article{zhang2025-40880407,
author = {Zhang, Qianqian and Deng, Yanwen and Xue, Mo and Ni, Zihan and Luo, Guangyan and Kan, Tian},
title = {{Global trends in Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias in adults aged 55 and above (1992–2021): An age-period-cohort analysis based on the GBD 2021}},
journal = {PLoS ONE},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0331204},
pmid = {40880407},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0331204}
}
Studies this one cites
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