Nearly 1 in 10 elderly in South Korea have Alzheimer’s

Nearly one out of 10 older adults in South Korea suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, with the number of dementia patients expected to surpass 1 million next year, according to data released on Wednesday.

The data, compiled by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, showed that the number of dementia patients is projected to reach 970,000 by 2025, accounting for 9.17% of those aged 65 or older, according to Yonhap News Agency.

The number of dementia cases is anticipated to exceed 1 million next year and reach 2 million by 2044.

The ministry noted that the proportion of dementia cases among older adults has decreased from 9.5% in 2016, attributing the decline to improved education levels and better health conditions among older adults.

“The proportion of dementia cases among older people is expected to stay around the 10% level until 2045 and increase to around 12% to 13% by 2059,” a ministry official said.

To address this growing issue, the ministry plans to introduce support measures for dementia patients to reduce the financial and caregiving burden on their families.

Meanwhile, a recent survey by the Korea Institute of Public Administration indicated a rise in anxiety and depression among South Koreans last year.

Respondents who reported feeling anxiety recorded an average of 4.1 out of 10 points last year, up from 3.4 points in 2023. Feelings of depression also increased from 2.8 points to 3.5 points during the same period.

The survey, conducted on 8,251 adults from August to September last year, aimed to assess the level of social integration and public perception.

In contrast, the average public perception of happiness recorded 6.8 points, reflecting a 0.1-point increase from the previous year.

However, the lowest income group, earning less than 1 million won ($693) per month, reported a 0.1-point decrease in happiness to 6.0 points. Meanwhile, the highest income group, with over 6 million won in monthly earnings, saw their happiness score rise from 6.8 points to 7.0 points last year.