8.8 million Indians have dementia: Why early diagnosis matters

For years, forgetting a name, misplacing the keys or repeating a question was often dismissed as simply “getting older”. But doctors say there is an important line between occasional forgetfulness and persistent changes that begin to interfere with everyday life — and recognising that line could become increasingly important as India’s population ages. India is already home to a large and growing population of older adults. According to the Government’s Technical Group on Population Projections, the number of people aged 60 years and above is projected to increase from about 10 crore in 2011 to 23 crore by 2036, raising their share of the population from 8.4 per cent to 14.9 per cent.Also read: World Alzheimer's Day: Can we reduce the risks of dementia?