Worldwide, life expectancy of older people continues to rise. By 2020, for the first time in history, the number of people aged 60 years and older will outnumber children younger than 5 years.
By 2050, the world’s population aged 60 years and older is expected to total 2 billion, up from 841 million today. 80% of these older people will be living in low-income and middle-income countries [Paper 1].
The increase in longevity, especially in high-income countries (HICs), has been largely due to the decline in deaths from cardiovascular disease (stroke and ischaemic heart disease), mainly because of simple, cost-effective strategies to reduce tobacco use and high blood pressure, and improved coverage and effectiveness of health interventions.
However, although people are living longer, they are not necessarily healthier than before— nearly a quarter (23%) of the overall global burden of death and illness is in people aged over 60, and much of this burden is attributable to long-term illness caused by diseases such as cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, heart disease, musculoskeletal diseases (such as arthritis and osteoporosis), and mental and neurological disorders [Paper 2].
This long-term burden of illness and diminished wellbeing affects patients, their families, health systems, and economies, and is forecast to accelerate. For example, latest estimates indicate that the number of people with dementia is expected to rise from 44 million now, to 135 million by 2050.
“Deep and fundamental reforms of health and social care systems will be required,”* says Dr John Beard, Director of the Department of Ageing and Life Course at the World Health Organization (WHO), and co-leader of the Series with Dr Ties Boerma and Dr Somnath Chatterji, also from WHO. “But we must be careful that these reforms do not reinforce the inequities that drive much of the poor health and functional limitation we see in older age.”*
The Latest on: Ageing population
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Ageing population” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Ageing population
- Women’s participation in ‘naked festival’ a sign of how aging is forcing changes to male-centric Japanese traditionson May 10, 2024 at 5:58 pm
One of Japan’s most entrenched male-centric traditions has been forced to embrace change thanks to a stark reality : a shrinking population.
- Canberra's aging population deserves more funding: Arthritis ACTon May 10, 2024 at 5:43 pm
A not-for-profit charity is arguing for the ACT Government to devote more money towards the city's ageing population, starting ...
- These Filipino healthcare workers in Gilgandra live away from their children to care for Australia's aging populationon May 10, 2024 at 12:14 pm
"One day they are going to appreciate what I did for them … why mummy left us … they will understand it." Ms Montecalvo is one of a number of Filipino nurses who have come to regional Australia to ...
- Global aging population to hit 1.4 billion in 2030on May 10, 2024 at 9:03 am
AS people around the world are living longer, a significant shift in the global population is underway. The World Health Organization said that most individuals can now expect to live into their ...
- Jobs keep Oakland County’s economy in top-10 nationally, though aging population and lack of workers are speed bump, economists sayon May 9, 2024 at 2:56 pm
The annual 3-year forecast shows overall county employment has exceeded pre-pandemic levels by 1.3%. Among similar-sized U.S. counties, Oakland ranks ninth. Fairfax, Va., retains its No. 1 ranking, he ...
- Opinion: The one reason America’s population isn’t about to start shrinkingon May 9, 2024 at 2:20 am
A recent US Census Bureau report projects the American population to reach a high of nearly 370 million in 2080 before beginning its historic downward turn which could spell a serious economic decline ...
- In rapidly ageing China, millions of migrant workers can't afford to retireon May 8, 2024 at 3:30 pm
After three decades selling homemade buns on the streets of the Chinese city of Xian, 67-year-old Hu Dexi would have liked to slow down.
- East Asia’s Coming Population Collapseon May 8, 2024 at 7:59 am
East Asian countries will be no exception: the realm of the possible for its states will be radically constricted by the coming population drop. They will find it harder to generate economic growth, ...
- Report: Digital integration key to tackling ageing populationon May 7, 2024 at 5:00 pm
With 14% of the Malaysian population expected to be senior citizens by 2040, a fully integrated digitalised health record (DHR) system will be crucial in managing the looming ageing population crisis, ...
- Why an aging population is posing problems for US spendingon May 6, 2024 at 11:30 am
There are a few things that International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva says she is concerned when it comes to the US debt. Georgieva says the US is in a "very privileged ...
via Bing News