Epidemiology: In 2021, an estimated 57 million people worldwide were living with dementia, with more than 60% residing in low- and middle-income countries. Nearly 10 million new cases occur every year. In 2019, dementia imposed a global economic burden of USD 1.3 trillion, approximately 50% of which resulted from informal caregiving (mainly by family members and close friends), who on average provide 5 hours of care and supervision daily. Dementia is currently the seventh leading cause of death worldwide and a major cause of disability and dependency among older adults. Dementia results from a wide variety of brain diseases and injuries, with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) being the most common form, accounting for 60–70% of all cases.

Definition: Dementia refers to a group of conditions that affect memory, thinking, and the ability to perform daily activities. The disease is progressive over time, primarily affecting older adults, though it is not a normal part of aging. Dementia is a syndrome caused by different pathological processes that progressively destroy neurons and damage the brain, leading to cognitive decline beyond what can be attributed to normal biological aging. While consciousness is not affected, cognitive decline is often accompanied—or sometimes preceded—by changes in mood, emotional regulation, behavior, or motivation.

Dementia has profound physical, psychological, social, and economic impacts—not only for people living with the disease but also for caregivers, families, and society at large. Limited awareness and understanding often lead to stigma, delayed diagnosis, and barriers to care.

Risk factors include:

• Aging (more common in individuals aged 65+)
• Hypertension
• Diabetes
• Overweight or obesity
• Smoking
• Excessive alcohol use
• Physical inactivity
• Social isolation
• Depression

Signs and Symptoms:

Early changes in mood or behavior may occur before memory problems become apparent. Symptoms worsen progressively, and most people with dementia will eventually require assistance with daily activities. Early symptoms include:

• Forgetting recent events or objects
• Misplacing or losing belongings
• Getting lost while walking or driving
• Confusion, even in familiar places
• Losing track of time
• Difficulty solving problems or making decisions
• Trouble following conversations or finding words
• Difficulty completing familiar tasks
• Misjudging distances or visual perception

Behavioral and mood changes may include:

• Anxiety, sadness, or anger related to memory loss
• Personality changes
• Inappropriate behaviors
• Withdrawal from work or social activities
• Reduced empathy toward others

The course of dementia varies by underlying cause, coexisting health conditions, and the individual’s baseline cognitive function. Symptoms usually worsen over time, requiring increased support. In advanced stages, patients may fail to recognize loved ones, have mobility difficulties, lose bladder and bowel control, struggle with eating, or develop distressing behavioral changes such as aggression.

Progression:

Dementia typically develops over a long preclinical phase. It may take 15–30 years for amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation to cause the clinical symptoms of AD. Since current interventions target the early stages of AD, pre-symptomatic diagnosis is critical. In the search for urinary biomarkers, researchers have identified fragments of Aβ and amyloid precursor protein (AβPP) in urine, showing potential as novel biomarkers for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. To address the lack of early screening tools for MCI/dementia, a colloidal gold urine strip test was developed using monoclonal antibodies and phagocytosis-promoting peptides targeting AβPP and Aβ fragments, and its potential for early detection was evaluated.

One Step Dementia Risk Test Kit is a screening tool designed to detect the risk of dementia (including but not limited to Alzheimer’s disease). It qualitatively analyzes biochemical markers of amyloid-β protein in human urine, providing physicians with supportive evidence to determine whether further testing is required, as well as assisting in monitoring disease progression and treatment outcomes related to brain health.

Reference: World Health Organization. Dementia [Internet]. Geneva: WHO; Updated 31 March 2025 [cited 2025 Jul 12]. Available from: https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dementia.