ISTANBUL

Over 40% of people in the US aged 55 and older will develop dementia, significantly increasing the burden on the population in the coming decades, according to a new research published Monday in the journal Nature Medicine.

As the US population has aged over the past century, the number of late-life diseases has increased, with dementia now affecting more than 6 million Americans.

In the study, researchers tracked the health records of about 15,000 people for an average of 23 years, using a more diverse dataset than previous dementia studies. Nearly a quarter of participants were Black, and over half were women.

More than four in 10 adults developed dementia in this large, longstanding, community-based cohort study, with higher rates in women and Black adults.

"Approximately 1 million US adults will develop dementia annually by 2060," according to the research.

A 55-year-old's lifetime risk of developing dementia is 42% up to age 95, with the risk increasing with age. Between 55 and 75, the average person’s risk is 4%, rising to about 20% by age 85.

"It is a leading cause of disability among older adults and accounts for more than 100,000 deaths each year," the research also noted.

The study highlights the urgent need for policies focused on preventive measures and promoting healthy aging, which are essential for reducing the growing and substantial burden of dementia on individuals and society.