Dementia in rural South Africa : a pressing need for epidemiological studies : editorial

Dementia is a growing public health concern globally, with total estimated worldwide costs per year at USD604 billion in 2010. With older age being a major risk factor for dementia, the increasing numbers of older adults worldwide will increase demand for services to diagnose, treat and care for people with dementia (PWD). Little is known about the prevalence of dementia or its impact on older adults living in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in Africa, including South Africa (SA). Furthermore, there has been little research into the aetiology and risk factors in LMICs. The need for studies to investigate these factors in SA is therefore critical.