Newsroom
Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia were the second leading cause of death among women in Cyprus in 2021, according to World Health Organization estimates cited by the Ithaki Foundation ahead of World Alzheimer’s Day.
The conditions accounted for an estimated 49.9 deaths per 100,000 women in Cyprus, placing them behind only the leading cause of death among the female population. Among men, Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia ranked sixth, with an estimated mortality rate of 26.8 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants.
The Ithaki Foundation said the figures demonstrate the need for greater public awareness, preventive action, earlier diagnoses and stronger support for people living with dementia and those caring for them.
Dementia remains one of the most significant public health challenges internationally. WHO data shows that more than 57 million people were living with dementia worldwide in 2021, while almost 10 million new cases are diagnosed each year, equivalent to approximately one every three seconds.
The number of people living with the condition globally is projected to exceed 130 million by 2050.
Ithaki Foundation president Isavella Karaoli said dementia has consequences that extend beyond the person receiving a diagnosis.
“Dementia does not only affect the individual diagnosed, but the entire family and society,” Karaoli said, adding that early diagnosis, reliable information and appropriate support can substantially improve the quality of life of both patients and caregivers.
The foundation also called for action against the stigma and social exclusion often experienced by people with dementia.
It said better public understanding could help challenge persistent myths and prejudice, encouraging people to discuss dementia openly, listen without judgment and offer support without attaching stigma to the condition.
