Burden of Dementia attributable to risk factors in Türkiye, 1990–2023

Introduction

Dementia is an increasing public health challenge in Türkiye, largely driven by population ageing and the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). This study aimed to assess temporal trends in prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) attributable to Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, and to quantify the contribution of key modifiable risk factors—high fasting plasma glucose (FPG), high body mass index (BMI), and smoking—between 1990 and 2023.

Methods

Data were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease 2023 study. Age-standardized rates (ASRs) for prevalence, mortality, and DALYs were analyzed. Trends by sex and year were assessed using joinpoint regression, estimating annual percent change (APC) and average annual percent change (AAPC).

Results

In 2023, the estimated number of dementia cases in Türkiye reached 626,189, with women accounting for 63.90%. Dementia mortality and DALY ASRs increased modestly, with AAPCs of 0.46% and 0.23%, respectively. In contrast, prevalence ASRs showed a slight but significant decline (AAPC: −0.15%). The dementia burden attributable to metabolic risk factors rose substantially: DALY and mortality ASRs linked to high FPG increased annually by 1.97% and 2.19%, respectively, while those attributable to high BMI increased by 2.10% and 2.54%. Conversely, smoking-attributable DALY and mortality ASRs declined (AAPC: −0.90% and −0.68%). Across all indicators, the burden remained consistently higher among females.

Conclusions

The burden of dementia in Türkiye continues to increase, with metabolic risk factors, FPG and BMI, playing an increasingly important role and higher burden among females. These findings underscore the need for tailored prevention strategies, early detection, and strengthened primary care to reduce metabolic risk factors and promote healthy ageing, particularly among women.

Key messages

• The burden of dementia in Türkiye continues to increase.

• Metabolic risk factors, especially high FPG and BMI, are increasingly important, with a higher burden in women.