China to take effective measures to curb senile dementia: official

BEIJING -- China will beef up efforts to reduce the incidence rate of senile dementia, an official with the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CCDCP) said on July 29.

The country has vowed to slow the growth rate of senile dementia incidence for people aged 65 and above from 2022 to 2030, according to a guideline to implement the country's Healthy China initiative issued by the State Council earlier this month.

The disease can be prevented by guarding against risk factors, for example, low education levels, said Li Zhixin, an official with the National Center for Chronic and Noncommunicable Disease Control and Prevention under the CCDCP, at the press conference held by the National Health Commission.

The loss of hearing in midlife, high blood pressure and obesity are closely connected with senile dementia, Li said, adding that other factors include smoking, lack of physical exercise and social interaction, depression and diabetes can contribute.

The country will also launch early screening and intervention of senile dementia, instructing the high-risk population to eat and live in a healthy way and help them control their cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, Li said.

The number of senile dementia patients in China is estimated at more than 9 million. As the country's population is aging rapidly, it is predicted that the number of senile dementia patients will exceed 40 million by 2050, Li noted.