Journal Article

Global mortality, prevalence and disability-adjusted life years of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias in adults aged 60 years or older, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: a comprehensive analysis for the global burden of disease 2021

Rong, Xue-Wen, Yu, Dong-Ting, Li, Rui-Xuan, Sun, Jing-Ran, Zhu, Guo-Dong, Guo, Xu-Guang

2025

Overview

Objective Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other dementias are major public health concerns with an increasing global impact. The burden of these conditions varies by region, age, and gender, and the COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated these disparities, potentially influencing disease prevalence, mortality, and disability burden. This study aimed to assess the global and regional burden and trends of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias in adults aged 60 years or older from 1990 to 2021, with a particular focus on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mortality, prevalence, and disability-adjusted life years. Methods Using Global Burden of Disease (GBD 2021) data, we analyzed age-standardized death rates (ASDR), incidence rates (ASIR), prevalence rates (ASPR), and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) from 1990 to 2021. Temporal trends were assessed using the Estimated Annual Percentage Change (EAPC). Projections were modeled using Bayesian Age-Period-Cohort (BAPC) techniques. We evaluated excess mortality by comparing actual versus expected deaths during the pandemic. Decomposition analysis examined the contributions of population growth, aging, and epidemiological shifts. We analyzed health inequality to highlight and address disparities in health status and resource access across regions. All plots and tables were created using Joinpoint Regression model (Version 4.8.0.1), StataMP 18, and R statistical packages (Version 4.4.1). Results In 2021, global mortality from AD and other dementias among individuals aged 60 and older reached approximately 1,922,970.75 cases (95% CI: 480,348.08 to 5,104,315.95), and the prevalence was 52,560,253.51 cases (95% CI: 41,399,948.84 to 65,633,448.71). High Body Mass Index (BMI) and High Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) were prominent risk factors. Projections suggest a near fourfold increase in AD cases by 2050, driven by population growth and aging, with females disproportionately affected. Health inequalities persist, with higher disease burdens in high-SDI regions. The pandemic impacted mortality unevenly, highlighting regional disparities. Conclusion Although incidence rates declined from 1990 to 2021, the overall burden of AD and dementias remains substantial and is expected to rise significantly by 2050. The findings underscore the need for targeted interventions addressing risk factors like High FPG, gender disparities, and the socioeconomic effects of COVID-19, particularly in high-SDI countries.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Springer Nature B.V,BMC
• Subject: Adults / Advertising executives / Aged / Aged, 80 and over / Aging / Alzheimer Disease - epidemiology / Alzheimer Disease - mortality / Alzheimer's disease / Analysis / Bayesian analysis / Body mass index / Care and treatment / COVID-19 / COVID-19 - epidemiology / Dementia / Dementia - epidemiology / Dementia - mortality / Dementias / Demographic aspects / Development and progression / Disability / Disability-Adjusted Life Years / Diseases / Epidemiology / Female / Forecasts and trends / GBD / Gender / Global Burden of Disease - trends / Global Health - statistics & numerical data / Health aspects / Health inequality / Humans / Incidence / Male / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / Middle Aged / Mortality / Neurodegenerative diseases / Pandemics / Population growth / Prevalence / Prevalence studies (Epidemiology) / Prevention / Psychiatry / Psychotherapy / Public health / Risk factors / Socioeconomic factors / United Kingdom / Womens health