LAUSR

Dementia has a range of outcomes that includes declining memory, multiple cognitive deficits, and mortality due to brain damage. Developing countries bear the burden of 60% of patients with dementia worldwide.1 Pakistan is the sixth most populated country and has an estimated 150,000–200,000 patients with dementia. In light of improving health indicators, average life expectancy has increased. With an increase in the elderly population, the prevalence of dementia is expected to rise. Among people older than 65 years, the prevalence of dementia is expected to increase from 2% to 6% over the next 30 years.2 This poses an economic challenge for the population that bears 67% of the cost of health care through out-of-pocket payments.3 Traditionally most health care is consumed by the population in the latter age spectrum; therefore people in Pakistan who retire at the age of 60 rely on the government pension scheme and their savings for health care costs.