Lok Sabha Question No. 1472 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-10
Subject: Cases of Dementia
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Ramya  Haridas

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1472 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10 TH  FEBRUARY, 2023

## CASES OF DEMENTIA

## 1472.  MS. RAMYA HARIDAS:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of cases of Dementia reported in the country during the last five years, State-wise and year-wise;
- (b) whether the Government is aware that a recent study  conducted by  Lancet  Public Health indicated an increase of Dementia cases in India by 197 per cent by the year 2050;
- (c) whether the Government intends to evaluate the prevalence of risk factors associated with Dementia and implement policies to address the said risk factors;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) whether  the  Government  intends  to  curb  the  production  and  sale  of  cigarettes  as smoking is one of the risk factors associated with Dementia?

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND

## ANSWER FAMILY WELFARE (DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a) & (b): As per the Global Burden of Disease study, the cases of dementia in India were estimated to be 38,43,118 in the year 2019, and the number of is expected to increase to 1,14,22,692 by the year 2050. The State/UT-wise data regarding cases of dementia is not maintained centrally.

(c) & (d): Risk for Dementia can be potentially reduced by better management of Diabetes and  Hypertension.  Government  of  India  is  implementing  the  National  Programme  for Prevention  and  Control  of  Cancer,  Diabetes,  Cardiovascular  Diseases  and  Stroke (NPCDCS)  with  focus  on  strengthening  infrastructure,  human  resource  development, screening,  early  detection  and  management  of  common  Non  Communicable  Diseases (NCDs) including  diabetes  and  hypertension.  Screening  for  common  NCDs  is  also  an integral part of service delivery under Ayushman Bharat - Health and Wellness Centres.

Government is also implementing the National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE). The major activities of NPHCE include setting up of Geriatric Department in regional Geriatric Centres (RGC) with OPD care services and 30 bedded Geriatric Ward, setting up of Geriatric units at District Hospitals to provide specialized Geriatric Services including  a  10  bedded  Geriatric  Ward,  establishment  of  a  rehabilitation  unit  at  all Community  Health  Centres  and  Geriatric  Clinics  twice  a  week,  setting  up  of  weekly Geriatric Clinic by trained Medical Officers at Primary Health Centres and information, education and communication activities on healthy lifestyle, home care to the bed ridden and supporting devices for the needy elderly persons at sub-centre level.

Further,  to  address  the  burden  of  mental  disorders,  the  Government  is  supporting implementation of the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) under NMHP in 716 districts  of  the  country  for  detection,  management  and  treatment  of  mental  disorders/ illness.  Under  the  Tertiary  care  component  of  National  Mental  Health  Programme,  25 Centres of Excellence and 47 PG Departments have been sanctioned to increase the intake of students in PG departments in mental health specialities as well as to provide tertiary level  treatment  facilities.  The  Central  and  State  Mental  Health  Institutions  and  the Psychiatric Wings of the Central and State medical colleges also have facilities for early detection  and  treatment  for  Alzheimer's  Disease,  which  is  the  most  common  cause  of Dementia.

(e): Smoking can increase the risk of dementia by increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and stroke, narrowing the blood vessels in the heart and brain, causing oxidative stress which damages the brain.

The major steps taken by the Government to curb the use of tobacco in country are as under:

- i. The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has enacted a comprehensive legislation, namely the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003 (COTPA 2003) to discourage the consumption of tobacco products in order to protect the masses from the health hazards attributable to tobacco use. The provisions under COTPA, 2003 and the Rules made mandates prohibition of smoking in public places; ban on sale of tobacco products to and by minors and within 100 yards of educational institutions;  prohibition  on  direct  and  indirect  advertising  of  tobacco  products  and mandatory display of specified health warnings.
- ii. The National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) was launched by this Ministry with the aim to (i) create awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco consumption, (ii)  reduce  the  production  and  supply  of  tobacco  products,  (iii)  ensure  effective implementation of the provisions under COTPA, 2003 (iv) help people quit tobacco use,  and  (v)  facilitate  implementation  of  strategies  for  prevention  and  control  of tobacco advocated by WHO  Framework Convention of Tobacco Control.
3. Enforcement efforts are also monitored by the State Tobacco Control Cells (STCCs) and District Tobacco Control Cells (DTCCs).
- iii. Specified health warnings are displayed on all tobacco products packs covering 85% of the principal display area of tobacco product packs.
- iv. Revised guidelines for Tobacco Free Educational Institutions (ToFEI) to implement Section-6 of COTPA, 2003 have been disseminated/implemented.

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