A newly published study in the open-access journal PLOS One (7 May 2025) highlights a significant and accelerating rise in Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias (ADD) in China, outpacing the global average. Conducted by researchers Siyu Liu and Daoying Geng of Fudan University, the study draws attention to the disproportionate burden that dementia is placing on China, a country already grappling with the health implications of a rapidly ageing population. Despite the growing prevalence of these conditions worldwide, China stands out due to the sheer scale and speed of increase in cases, which the researchers argue warrants urgent public health attention.
ADD, comprising both Alzheimer’s disease and other related forms of cognitive decline, has become an increasingly serious global health issue, with incidence rates climbing steadily over the past several decades. However, the burden in China is particularly acute. Although the nation is home to one of the largest ageing populations in the world, there has been a notable lack of focused research into the specific causes, risk factors, and social impacts of dementia within the Chinese context. This lack of tailored understanding has hindered effective national planning and resource allocation to combat the disease.
To fill this knowledge gap, Liu and Geng utilised over thirty years of data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) project—a collaborative initiative involving the World Bank, the World Health Organisation, and several academic institutions. Their analysis found that between 1990 and 2021, cases of ADD in China more than tripled, while globally, cases merely doubled. This stark contrast highlights the unique demographic and epidemiological pressures facing China. Interestingly, while women in China carry a higher overall burden of the disease, likely due to their longer lifespans, men were found to have slightly higher death rates from dementia-related causes, suggesting a complex interplay of biological, behavioural, and social factors.
The study also projected future trends using advanced statistical models, anticipating that dementia cases in China will continue to rise significantly over the next 15 years. These projections suggest that unless robust and targeted interventions are implemented soon, the country may face an overwhelming increase in dementia-related healthcare demands. The anticipated rise is closely tied to population ageing and increased life expectancy, but it is not solely the result of demographic shifts. The researchers argue that several modifiable risk factors are contributing to the acceleration of dementia in the Chinese population and could serve as leverage points for public health action.
Among these modifiable factors, high blood sugar, often stemming from diabetes, has now overtaken other conditions as the leading preventable risk factor for dementia, both globally and within China. The study underscores that hyperglycaemia, once primarily associated with cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, is now emerging as a key contributor to cognitive decline. Smoking and high body weight were also identified as significant risk factors, particularly among men, suggesting that behavioural health interventions could yield substantial benefits in reducing the incidence of dementia. Public health campaigns targeting diet, physical activity, and tobacco cessation may therefore serve as critical tools in addressing this emerging crisis.
In their conclusion, Liu and Geng emphasise that while the demographic realities of China’s ageing population cannot be easily altered, the risk landscape for dementia can be. They call for a comprehensive, evidence-based strategy focused on prevention, early detection, and public education to slow the upward trajectory of ADD cases. “Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias represent one of the heaviest disease burdens globally,” they write, “and in China, this burden has increased year by year from 1990 to 2021.” Their findings serve as a stark reminder of the looming public health challenge that dementia poses, not just for China but for ageing societies around the world.
More information: Siyu Liu et al, A systematic analysis for disease burden, risk factors, and trend projection of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias in China and globally, PLOS One. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0322574
Journal information: PLOS One Provided by PLOS
