The head of the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Association of Iran reported a change in the pattern of Alzheimer’s incidence after the COVID pandemic and said cases are now observed at younger ages.
According to him, based on available estimates, about 1,500,000 people in Iran have Alzheimer’s.
Masoumeh Salehi, noting that Alzheimer’s disease is closely related to aging, emphasized the importance of prevention, family education, and planning to confront the growing elderly population.
She said more than 55 million people worldwide have Alzheimer’s, and Iran, given the population aging trend, will also face an increase in cases of this disease.
Increase in cases at younger ages
Salehi said the incidence pattern has changed after the COVID pandemic. Previously, Alzheimer’s was mainly seen in people over 60 to 65 years old, but now cases are seen in people aged 50 and even younger.
She said people aged 45 to 55 are also among the association’s visitors and about 400 pre-Alzheimer’s cases have been identified in the country.
She cited anxiety and stress during the COVID era, reduced family interactions, and the loneliness of many elderly and young people as possible factors for this pattern change.
Salehi stressed that this trend is not limited to Iran and has been observed in other countries, particularly among young people.
Warning about Iran’s population aging
The head of the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Association of Iran, referring to the increasing aging trend in the country, said: based on demographic trends, about 30 percent of Iran’s population will be elderly in 1430. Reduced birth rates, youth migration, increased age at marriage, and delays in childbearing are factors that can intensify this trend.
According to Salehi, the increase in the number of elderly in the future alongside a decrease in the number of family caregivers could place a heavy burden on families and the government; therefore, prevention and early diagnosis must be prioritized in health policies.
Early diagnosis; an opportunity to reduce disease consequences
The Alzheimer’s Association of Iran has received authorization to implement the global early Alzheimer’s diagnosis program and is set to implement this plan in cooperation with Tehran, Iran, Shahid Beheshti, Rehabilitation, and Mazandaran Universities of Medical Sciences; the project proposal is ready and negotiations have been held with the Plan and Budget Organization to fund it.
Salehi says early diagnosis is very important; because one year of earlier diagnosis can postpone disease-related problems by up to five years and allow the person to live longer with greater ability and independence.
According to Salehi, educating the elderly about caring for their health and educating families on caring for patients can help reduce the disease’s consequences. The Alzheimer’s Association of Iran also holds eight free training sessions for patient caregivers and runs monthly "Cafe Dementia" sessions to support patients and their families.
According to ISNA, she also called on the Ministry of Health to pay attention to the National Alzheimer’s Document and to integrate it into the country’s health network system, emphasizing that implementing preventive programs can prevent increased treatment and care costs in coming years.