Epidemiology

The number of people living with dementia worldwide almost tripled from 20.2 million in 1990 to more than 55 million in 2023, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), and there are nearly 10 million new cases each year.[4][5]​ This increase has largely been attributed to population aging and population growth. The number of people living with dementia is expected to reach over 152 million by 2050.[6]

Vascular dementia is estimated to account for about 17% of all dementia, with Alzheimer disease accounting for about 70%, but there is considerable overlap.[7][8][9][10]

The incidence of vascular dementia has been estimated at approximately 3.8 per 1000 per annum. The estimated incidence in people ages between 65 and 69 years is between 0.3 and 2.2 per 1000 per annum, and this rises with age to between 9.3 and 15.9 per 1000 per annum in those ages >90 years.[11] In the US, this represents a prevalence of 332,000 to 856,000 patients affected.[7] Estimates of incidence and prevalence are likely to vary depending on the criteria used. 

Men are more likely to develop vascular dementia than women (unlike Alzheimer disease, where women are at increased risk).[12]

Higher rates of all-cause dementia have been reported in Asian and black populations, and with younger age at time of diagnosis, both in the US and around the world. Area-level deprivation has also been shown to be independently associated with an increased risk of dementia in a dose-dependent manner.[13][14][15]​​

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