Dementia in Bavaria: Alarming forecasts for the next 15 years!

Dementia in Bavaria: Alarming forecasts for the next 15 years!

In Bavaria, the number of people suffering from dementia has risen continuously in recent years. Around 270,000 people with this disease currently live in the Free State, whereby estimates by the Bavarian Ministry of Health suggest that the number could increase to 300,000 and until 2040 by 2030. Minister of Health Judith Gerlach (CSU) points out that only about 50 percent of those affected are diagnosed, which indicates a high number of unreported cases. For fear or ignorance, many people do not deal with dementia, which makes the early diagnosis decisive for the treatment and life planning of those affected.

A crucial tool in the fight against dementia is the Digidem Bavaria dementia register set up in 2019. This register is one of the largest in the EU and is operated by the Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg and the University Hospital Erlangen. The Free State of Bavaria supports the project with around 7.5 million euros. Through screening days that have been carried out since 2022, the register was able to test 3,800 citizens and collect valuable data.

Digidem Bavaria sets standards

The digital dementia register of Bavaria has now reached more than 2,500 participants and is therefore the largest of its kind in Germany. The aim of the project, which is promoted by the Bavarian State Ministry of Health, Care and Prevention, is to improve the supply situation of people with dementia and increase the quality of life of its caring relatives. Prof. Dr. med. Peter Kolominsky-Rabas, the project manager, emphasizes how important digitization is for care and research.

The early registration of people with dementia enables the entire course of the disease to be better accompanied. In addition, the register will play a crucial role in the long-term recording of side effects of new Alzheimer's medication. Digitization also contributes to offering supporting relatives through online questionnaires such as the relatives. These promote the assessment of the need for care and can reduce the stress for relatives.

dementia research in the digital age

according to hospital-it are over 60 percent of people with dementia, which underlines the research requirement in women's health. In order to check the memory performance of the population, Digidem Bavaria carries out screening days in all government districts. In recent years, 2,849 people have participated on more than 100 test days, in which results in need of clarification in 30 percent of cases.

Digitization and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) offer new opportunities in dementia research. They improve data analysis and enable targeted use of the health data to improve the living conditions of those affected. In addition, Digidem Bavaria cooperates with other dementia registers at European level to support the digitization initiatives and to promote the exchange of health data.

Overall, it can be seen that fighting and understanding of dementia in Bavaria are on growth course. The commitment of politics, science and digitization aims to significantly improve the quality of life of those affected and their relatives.