Infographic "Visualizing Development: Major Neurocognitive Disorder (NCD)"

The introductory text reads, The map below shows the number of people ages 60 and over in each world region, and the percentage of those people who have a major neurocognitive disorder. Population data come from the United Nations, where skilled statisticians compile data on all 193 member nations. Therefore, the numbers are quite accurate. Prevalence data come from The Lancet, a highly respected British medical journal, and are as accurate as possible. However, those numbers are affected by cultural variations, not only in definition and diagnosis, but also in survival rates. Thus, a low percentage of people living with major NCD is not necessarily a sign of regional health. Comparisons between regions may be unfair, but one conclusion is clear: Nowhere in the world are more than 8 percent of the elderly suffering from severe brain disease.

A world map shows the health care costs associated with major NCD. Each region has a pie chart that shows the percent of that region's population over 60 years of age and the percent with NCD. The charts and percentages (total population over 60 and percent with NCD) are as follows.

• World - 962 million, 5.2 percent.
• South America - 52.68 million, 4.37 percent.
• Central America - 17.27 million, 7.35 percent.
• Caribbean - 6.07 million, 3.04 percent.
• North America - 78.4 million, 5.55 percent.
• Western Europe - 51.16 million, 5.28 percent.
• West Africa - 16,93 million, 2.23 percent.
• Northern Europe - 25.18 million, 5.16 percent.
• Southern Europe - 40.90 million, 6.79 percent.
• North Africa or Middle East - 41.57 million, 6.29 percent.
• Central Africa - 4.24 million, 4.96 percent.
• Southern Africa - 5.25 million, 3.90 percent.
• Eastern Europe - 39.30 million, 5.70 percent.
• East Africa - 19.65 million, 2.59 percent.
• Central Asia - 5.85 million, 4.24 percent.
• South Asia - 165.36 million, 2.27 percent.
• East Asia - 291.94 million, 5.13 percent.
• Asia Pacific - 46.63 million, 6.30 percent.
• Southeast Asia - 63.97 million, 5.22 percent.
• Oceania - 6.92 million, 4.04 percent.

A subheading reads, "Health Care Costs Associated with Major NCD." The following text reads, Alzheimer’s disease and other major neurocognitive disorders are among the costliest chronic diseases to society: Individuals with a major NCD have more hospital and skilled nursing facility stays and home health care visits than other older people. However, the human cost may be greater than these estimates: Many family members spend substantial time caring for people with a major NCD, but often that time is not calculated until the disorder is severe.

A chart titled "The Health Care Providers" shows the costs of hospitals and doctors, paid caregivers, and unpaid care by family, friends, and others. Each category is presented in high-income, upper middle-income, lower middle-income and low-income countries as follows: