A woman wears mismatched shoes during a simulation exercise held to help dementia patients in the district of Seocho in Seoul, Sept. 26, 2024. The number of Korean patients suffering from dementia is projected to exceed 1 million next year with the figure expected to double in just 20 years as the population rapidly ages, the government said Wednesday. Newsis
The number of Koreans suffering from dementia is expected to surpass 1 million next year and double in 20 years, due to the country's rapidly aging population, the government said Wednesday.
According to the results of the first nationwide study in seven years conducted on the subject, 9.25 percent of the 9.46 million people aged 65 or higher in Korea were diagnosed with dementia — an illness associated with the decline of brain functions. Older adults make up 18.5 percent of the country's total population.
After considering the prevalence rate among older adults and growth in their proportion of the total population, researchers at the Ministry of Health and Welfare said more than 970,000 people are currently suffering from the condition and the figure is expected to surpass 2 million in 2044.
On a positive note, the prevalence rate of dementia patients in the age group dropped from the 9.5 percent found in a 2016 study. The researchers attributed this to a reduction in risk factors such as smoking and drinking. For example, the prevalence rate of binge drinking decreased from 10.6 percent in 2017 to 7.8 percent in 2023.
Nevertheless, aging is the biggest risk factor for dementia. The report showed that the rate of those diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment, a condition that can be a sign of what will eventually cause dementia, increased to 28.42 percent from 22.25 percent during the period. Currently, about 2.98 million are estimated to have this condition and the figure is projected to reach 4 million in 2033.
The increasing number of dementia patients means growing financial pressure on families and the nation's health care system.
In a survey conducted by health officials, 45.8 percent of the respondents said they felt “burdened,” financially or mentally, to take care of their family members suffering from dementia, while 27.1 percent said they were not.
When asked whether taking care of such family members negatively affected their lives, 40 percent said it did. Those who live separately from such patients were found to, on average, spend 18 hours per week providing necessary care for them.
The study also found that family members spend about 17.34 million won ($12,000) annually on patient care on average, with 67 percent of the cost going to hiring caregivers. The more severe the condition is, the higher the care costs tend to become, the report said.
With no cure available for dementia, officials said it was crucial to detect the condition as early as possible as it would allow timely interventions, better symptoms treatment and improved quality of life for patients and their families.
In line with these efforts, the ministry said it would strengthen the role of public health centers in detecting dementia early, especially for high-risk people such as those who live alone.
It is currently drafting a comprehensive plan to improve the system over the next five years, with policy ideas such as expanded support for families struggling with care expenses under review now.
“As the number of dementia patients is expected to continue to increase due to the graying population, we will develop various policies to help people stay healthy and to lessen the burden of the families of such patients,” said Kim Eul-ki, director general at the ministry's senior policy division.