Dementia rates in China are rising 50% faster than in the rest of the world, according to a new report that has been released as the Chinese government unveils major investment in preventing and treating the disease.
Research by academics at Fudan University found that dementia diagnoses in China tripled between 1990 and 2021, while they only doubled across the rest of the world.
The "main culprit" for the high numbers in China is population growth, said New Scientist. Smoking rates are another factor: "roughly half" of all men smoke in China. A shift towards more Westernised eating habits has also played a part.
Beijing's "action plan", a joint initiative of 15 government institutions, will encompass "all aspects" of the disease, from "prevention and early detection to diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and care", said the South China Morning Post. Western diets are higher in fat and calories, and correlate with greater incidences of diabetes and obesity, both of which are also risk factors for dementia.
Prevention and early detection is also a crucial element of the plan, which includes a roll-out of nationwide cognitive function screenings for older citizens to identify those at risk of developing dementia. Authorities will also raise awareness of how the disease can be prevented and managed.
In parts of the country where "memory clinics" have already been established, such screenings are "as routine as blood pressure checks", said China Daily. These clinics also offer support to elderly residents concerned about their cognitive functioning. "We prescribe 'homework' (such as) daily mind-body exercises tracked through WeChat group chats," said Beijing-based dementia caregiver Wang Hong. "They really work." | 
