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 with several pie charts shows the
number of cases of major N C D worldwide. Each circle has a size relative to the population of those over 60 years
of age (in millions) with a pie representing the percentage of people having N C D as follows.
Worldwide:
Population, 962 million in 2017; N C D, 5.2 percent.
North America: Population, 78.4 million; N C D, 5.55
percent.
Caribbean: Population, 6.07 million; N C D, 3.04 percent.
Central America: Population, 17.27
million; N C D, 7.35 percent.
South America: Population, 52.68 million; N C D, 4.37 percent.
West
Africa: Population, 16.93 million; N C D, 2.23 percent.
Southern Africa: Population, 5.25 million; N C D, 3.90
percent.
Central Africa: Population, 4.24 million; N C D, 7.44 percent.
East Africa: Population, 19.65
million; N C D, 2.59 percent.
North Africa/ Middle East: Population, 41.57 million; N C D, 6.29 percent.
Western Europe: Population, 51.16 million; N C D, 5.28 percent.
Northern Europe: Population, 25.18 million; N
C D, 5.16 percent.
Eastern Europe: Population, 39.30 million; N C D, 5.70 percent.
Southern Europe:
Population, 40.90 million; N C D, 6.79 percent.
East Asia: Population, 291.94 million; N C D, 5.13
percent.
Central Asia: Population, 5.85 million; N C D, 4.24 percent.
South Asia: Population, 165.36
million; N C D, 2.27 percent.
Asia Pacific: Population, 46.63 million; N C D, 6.30 percent.
Southeast
Asia: Population, 63.97 million; N C D, 5.22 percent.
Oceania: Population, 6.92 million; N C D, 4.04
percent.
A subheading reads, Health Care Costs Associated with Major N C D. 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:
Hospitals and Doctors
High-income countries:
14.5 percent; Upper middle-income countries: 32.1 percent; Lower middle-income countries: 23.1 percent; and
Low-income countries: 28.2 percent.
Paid Caregivers
High-income countries: 45.2 percent; Upper
middle-income countries: 25.7 percent; Lower middle-income countries: 12.2 percent; Low-income countries: 14.3
percent.
Care by Family, Friends, and Others
High-income countries: 40.3 percent; Upper middle-income
countries: 42.2 percent; Lower middle-income countries: 64.7 percent; Low-income countries: 57.6
percent.