Temporal trend and attributable risk factors of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias burden in China: Findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

INTRODUCTION: We examined the burden of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias (ADOD) and attributable factors at the national and provincial levels in China. METHODS: Using the Global Burden of Diseases Study 2021, we estimated incidence, prevalence, mortality rate, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and the ratio of years lived with disability (YLD) to DALYs for ADOD in China. Estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs) were used to quantify the temporal trends from 1990 to 2021. RESULTS: In 2021, China experienced the highest ADOD burden among Group of 20 member nations. The EAPCs for age-standardized rates for incidence, age-standardized rates for prevalence, and age-standardized mortality rate were 0.41 (uncertainty intervals [UIs] 0.34-0.49); 0.44 (UI: 0.36-0.52); and -0.19 (UI:-0.23 to-0.15), respectively. Between 1990 and 2021, the number of people with ADOD increased by 322.18% and DALYs associated with ADOD increased by 272.71%; most of these increases were explained by population aging. DISCUSSION: Considering the aging Chinese population, targeted strategies to prevent dementia are urgently needed.