Center for Disease Mapping and Therapeutic Research, Era University, Lucknow, UP, India-226003.

Research Metabolic Unit, Era University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India- 226003.

Research Metabolic Unit, Era University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India- 226003.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) remains the most common cause of dementia as the prevalence of the disease and severe cases among older individuals continue to increase. Global trends indicate that there will be about 150 million cases of AD by 2050, and the most affected countries will be those of low and middle-income. AD is already costing the world over $1 trillion, and with the rapid growth of the disease, that cost will increase. AD has a far-reaching negative impact on all of society, including caregiving, loss of patient quality of life, mental distress, and stigma. These dual burdens on society and the economy will increase as more and more countries are affected by AD, and as more countries are affected by the disease, the health inequities caused and hidden by the disease will also be more severe. It is hoped that global policy frameworks will be developed to address more systemically the challenges posed by inequitable dementia care. The emergence of Digital AD biomarkers and the application of precision medicine in digital health are promising opportunities to address the challenges of early-stage AD and decrease the burden of inequitable dementia care. In this review, we highlight the current epidemiological trends, economic and social impacts, therapeutic challenges, and future directions in AD.