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Health inequalities in disease burden of dementia and early-onset dementia: findings from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 study
Min Du, Lu Gram, Fude Yang, Donghua Mi, Hongguang Chen, Chao Song, Min Liu, Jue Liu. Global Health Research and Policy, 2025-05-19
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Although the ASPR and ASIR remained stable or decreased globally, they both greatly increased in East Asia (ASPR: EAPC = 0.43; 95% CI 0.35, 0.51; ASIR: EAPC = 0.40; 95% CI 0.33, 0.47). For early-onset dementia, the ASPR (range of EAPC = 0.03-0.17) and ASIR (range of EAPC = 0.05-0.19) in the 45 to 59 years age group increased in North Africa and Middle East, particularly among females (ASPR: range of EAPC = 0.08-0.21; ASIR: range of EAPC = 0.09-0.2). Although the ASMR and ASDR both decreased globally and in high socio-demographic index region, they both increased greatly in South Asia (ASMR: EAPC = 0.7; 95% CI 0.66, 0.75; ASDR: EAPC = 0.40; 95% CI 0.37, 0.43). For early-onset dementia, the ASMR (range of EAPC = 0.43-0.78) and ASDR (range of EAPC = 0.19-0.33) in the 40 to 59 years age group had increased in Central Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly among females (ASMR: range of EAPC = 0.5-0.86; ASDR: range of EAPC = 0.19-0.4). Negative correlations were observed between the EAPC in ASPR, ASIR, ASMR and ASDR with various types of HRH at the national level. Although there has been progresses in controlling the global trends of dementia incidence, prevalence, and mortality, significant regional and national inequalities remain evident. More importantly, the early-onset dementia burden is increasing significantly among females in the African region, underscoring the critical need for healthcare systems that address dementia across the early midlife span.
Key findings
- Although the ASPR and ASIR remained stable or decreased globally, they both greatly increased in East Asia (ASPR: EAPC = 0.43; 95% CI 0.35, 0.51; ASIR: EAPC = 0.40; 95% CI 0.33, 0.47).
- For early-onset dementia, the ASPR (range of EAPC = 0.03-0.17) and ASIR (range of EAPC = 0.05-0.19) in the 45 to 59 years age group increased in North Africa and Middle East, particularly among females (ASPR: range of EAPC = 0.08-0.21; ASIR: range of EAPC = 0.09-0.2).
- Although the ASMR and ASDR both decreased globally and in high socio-demographic index region, they both increased greatly in South Asia (ASMR: EAPC = 0.7; 95% CI 0.66, 0.75; ASDR: EAPC = 0.40; 95% CI 0.37, 0.43).
- For early-onset dementia, the ASMR (range of EAPC = 0.43-0.78) and ASDR (range of EAPC = 0.19-0.33) in the 40 to 59 years age group had increased in Central Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly among females (ASMR: range of EAPC = 0.5-0.86; ASDR: range of EAPC = 0.19-0.4).
- Negative correlations were observed between the EAPC in ASPR, ASIR, ASMR and ASDR with various types of HRH at the national level.
Why it matters
Although global dementia rates were stable or decreased, prevalence and incidence rose greatly in East Asia, and early-onset dementia burden increased among females in parts of Africa and the Middle East. The paper highlights regional inequalities and calls for action but does not test any treatment, cure, or prevention.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 41/100
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 (Global Health Research and Policy) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Global Health Research and Policy: journal h-index 52 (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 | 2 / 7 | Cited 9 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 3.0 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 5.7× 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 9 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Jue Liu: h-index 63 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University College London: institution h-index 2,029 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 6 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40390116) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 41 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.1186/s41256-025-00417-x
- PubMed: 40390116
- Original source →
- Free full text: Global Health Research and Policy →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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. The record names 8 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.
APA 7th
Du, M., Gram, L., Yang, F., Mi, D., Chen, H., Song, C., et al. (2025). Health inequalities in disease burden of dementia and early-onset dementia: findings from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 study. Global Health Research and Policy. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41256-025-00417-x
Vancouver
Du M, Gram L, Yang F, Mi D, Chen H, Song C, et al. Health inequalities in disease burden of dementia and early-onset dementia: findings from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 study. Global Health Research and Policy. 2025. doi:10.1186/s41256-025-00417-x. PMID: 40390116.
BibTeX
@article{du2025-40390116,
author = {Du, Min and Gram, Lu and Yang, Fude and Mi, Donghua and Chen, Hongguang and Song, Chao and Liu, Min and Liu, Jue},
title = {{Health inequalities in disease burden of dementia and early-onset dementia: findings from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 study}},
journal = {Global Health Research and Policy},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1186/s41256-025-00417-x},
pmid = {40390116},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s41256-025-00417-x}
}
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