Overview

• WHO and ADI estimate more than 55 million people live with dementia today, with projections rising to 78 million by 2030 and 139 million by 2050.
• India’s caseload is about 8.8 million among those 60 and older and could reach roughly 17 million by 2036, far outpacing current capacity with only about 100 memory clinics nationwide.
• Large randomized trials (POINTER in the U.S. and FINGER in Finland) report that coordinated lifestyle changes—exercise, heart‑healthy diets, cognitive and social engagement—can improve cognition, with up to about 45% of risk tied to modifiable factors.
• Health services and clinicians urge vigilance for early warning signs such as worsening memory loss, difficulty with familiar tasks, disorientation, language problems, and mood or behavior changes, advising prompt medical evaluation.
• Specialist therapies targeting amyloid have approvals abroad for selected early cases but require biomarker testing and careful monitoring, while blood‑based diagnostics are emerging and not yet widely available in India.