India’s reported dementia burden may represent only part of the country’s actual caseload, with experts suggesting that the number of people living with dementia could be several times higher than current estimates. A 2023 nationwide study estimated that about 8.8 million Indians aged over 60 years have dementia. However, a senior consultant neurologist at a private hospital chain noted that this figure largely reflects patients who have reached and been registered at healthcare facilities. Limited registration and access to specialist care in villages and smaller towns could leave a substantial proportion of cases undocumented.

The neurologist estimated that India may have 8.8 million to 10 million people with dementia, with Alzheimer’s disease accounting for approximately 70% of cases. The actual burden, he suggested, could potentially be four to five times higher. The projected…