Health

Number of NZers with dementia will increase in 30 years - report

18:23 pm on 29 September 2021

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The number of people living with dementia in New Zealand will double in the next 30 years - according to a new report from the University of Auckland.

It's estimated more than 167,000 people will have it by 2050 and it'll cost $6 billion to manage the disease.

But while the number for Pākehā is expected to double - for Māori, Pacific and Asian people - it's expected to triple.

Alzheimers New Zealand commissioned the report and says the country isn't prepared.

Perlina Lau has been speaking to chief executive Catherine Hall about why these numbers are increasing.