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The global, regional, and national burdens of dementia in 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2021: A trend analysis based on the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021
Songxin Zhong, Chao Xiao, Rida Li, Yining Lan, Chi Gong, Changqiang Feng, Hengchang Qi, Yanni Lin et al.. Medicine, 2025-03-14
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
The global population is aging, and as a consequence, the prevalence of dementia is increasing rapidly. This study aims to analyze trends in the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) and health inequalities for dementia over the period 1990 to 2021. The incidence, prevalence, and disability-adjusted life year rates of dementia in the GBD 2021 database were analyzed at the global, national, and regional levels for the period 1990 to 2021 using Joinpoint 4.9.1.0 software. The trends over the period were assessed using a combination of age-standardized rates, average annual percentage changes (AAPCs), and a sociodemographic index. The analysis revealed that, from 1990 to 2021, the global AAPC in dementia incidence, prevalence, and disability-adjusted life years amounted to 0.06 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.05-0.09), 0.09 (95% CI: 0.08-0.10), and 0.03 (95% CI: 0.01-0.05), respectively. Conversely, the mean AAPC in age-standardized mortality rate remained stable at 0 (95% CI: -0.02 to 0.03). The age-standardized incidence rate and age-standardized prevalence rate of dementia exhibited a positive association with sociodemographic index during the study period. The 3 regions with the highest mean AAPC in age-standardized mortality rate among the 21 GBD regions were South Africa, Central Sub-Saharan Africa, and Eastern Sub-Saharan Africa. The findings of the study indicate that the burden of dementia increases with age and is projected to remain on an upward trend until 2040. The GBD has increased significantly from 1990 to 2021, and the prevention and control of dementia represents a long-term and formidable challenge.
Key findings
- The analysis revealed that, from 1990 to 2021, the global AAPC in dementia incidence, prevalence, and disability-adjusted life years amounted to 0.06 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.05-0.09), 0.09 (95% CI: 0.08-0.10), and 0.03 (95% CI: 0.01-0.05), respectively.
- The findings of the study indicate that the burden of dementia increases with age and is projected to remain on an upward trend until 2040.
- The GBD has increased significantly from 1990 to 2021, and the prevention and control of dementia represents a long-term and formidable challenge.
Why it matters
The global burden of dementia increased from 1990 to 2021, with incidence, prevalence, and disability-adjusted life years all rising, and the burden is projected to continue increasing until 2040. The study highlights the need for prevention and control measures, especially as the population ages.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 45/100
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 (Medicine) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Medicine: journal h-index 285 (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 28 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 9.3 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 17.7× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 3 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 28 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Chao Qin: h-index 14 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Guangxi Medical University: institution h-index 270 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40101022) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 45 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
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APA 7th
Zhong, S., Xiao, C., Li, R., Lan, Y., Gong, C., Feng, C., et al. (2025). The global, regional, and national burdens of dementia in 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2021: A trend analysis based on the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1097/md.0000000000041836
Vancouver
Zhong S, Xiao C, Li R, Lan Y, Gong C, Feng C, et al. The global, regional, and national burdens of dementia in 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2021: A trend analysis based on the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Medicine. 2025. doi:10.1097/md.0000000000041836. PMID: 40101022.
BibTeX
@article{zhong2025-40101022,
author = {Zhong, Songxin and Xiao, Chao and Li, Rida and Lan, Yining and Gong, Chi and Feng, Changqiang and Qi, Hengchang and Lin, Yanni and others},
title = {{The global, regional, and national burdens of dementia in 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2021: A trend analysis based on the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021}},
journal = {Medicine},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1097/md.0000000000041836},
pmid = {40101022},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1097/md.0000000000041836}
}
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