Dementia on the rise in Germany

Each year, the total number of people with dementia increases by about 40,000 nationally, the Rheinische Post reported Friday, citing figures from the German Alzheimer Society.

Currently, about 1.4 million people suffer from Alzheimer's or another form of dementia in Germany, with about 300,000 new people diagnosed each year. These new cases significantly outweigh the number of deaths among those affected, which means the number of people with dementia continues to grow.

Because of population patterns and a lack of new breakthrough research, experts predict this number could double by 2050 to about 3 million people.

Across the Continent, there are 6.3 million people over the age of 65 who suffer from Alzheimer's disease, and researchers expect this number could rise to 10 million by 2040, according to data by the European Alzheimer's cooperation project, Alcove.

In Germany, two-thirds of people with dementia have Alzheimer's, the most common form of the disorder. Alzheimer's, which mainly affects the elderly, leads to loss of mental abilities such as thinking, language and orientation. The exact cause of the disease is unknown.

hc/mkg (dpa, AFP, KNA)