New data from the Italian National Institute of statistics reveals a growing challenge for the nation’s healthcare system: an increasing prevalence of dementia. As of January 1,2025,an estimated 1.1 million Italians are living with the condition, placing a important strain on families and caregivers across the country. This report focuses on the situation in the Trentino region, where over 10,500 individuals aged 65 and older are currently diagnosed with dementia, and explores both the causes and potential preventative measures discussed by local medical experts.
TRENTO. An estimated 1.1 million people in Italy are living with a clinically relevant form of dementia, with nearly a million more experiencing mild cognitive impairment. This represents a significant caregiving burden, impacting approximately three million caregivers nationwide.
New estimates, based on data from the Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) as of January 1, 2025, indicate that in the Trentino region alone, 10,572 individuals aged 65 and older are living with dementia. An additional 8,868 people aged 60 and over have been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment. The data also reveals 224 cases of early-onset dementia, affecting individuals between the ages of 35 and 64.
The increasing prevalence of dementia is largely attributed to the aging population, presenting a major public health challenge for the future. “Prevention is key, and it needs to start in schools,” explains Dr. Raffaella di Giacopo, a medical director at the Multizonal Neurology Unit.
Dr. Di Giacopo, over 10,500 people in Trentino are currently living with some form of dementia. Has this number increased over the years? What are the earliest signs of these diseases?
Yes, we’ve seen an increase in the number of people living with dementia, particularly due to the aging population in Trentino, and across Italy as a whole.
Symptoms typically affect six cognitive domains: memory, language, attention, executive function, visuospatial abilities, and praxis. There’s also growing recognition of the importance of assessing social cognition.
Difficulty in one or more of these areas is classified as mild cognitive impairment (MCI). When these cognitive difficulties become severe enough to cause dependence on others, it’s considered dementia. It can be difficult for family members to recognize these early changes. For example, it’s often easier to notice memory problems, like repetition, in cases of Alzheimer’s disease than to identify subtle visuospatial difficulties.
You mentioned the possibility of introducing a new ‘domain’ – social cognition. What does that involve?
Social cognition refers to the cognitive and emotional ability to understand the thoughts of others, even based on nonverbal cues, and to interact appropriately within a social context. Difficulties in this area are more specific to certain types of dementia, such as frontotemporal dementia.
Did the COVID-19 pandemic have any consequences for dementia rates?
There haven’t been any official estimates on the impact on patients. However, my personal impression is that the pandemic both revealed cases that would have emerged eventually and contributed to an increase in psychiatric syndromes. These syndromes represent a risk factor for the development of neurodegenerative diseases.
The data refers to people with dementia aged 65 and older. Are there also younger people living with this condition?
When we talk about degenerative diseases and younger people, we generally mean onset around age 50 (ranging from 40 to 64). These are typically cases of frontotemporal dementia or atypical forms of Alzheimer’s disease, which may manifest as visuospatial or language disturbances. However, their incidence is lower than that of classic Alzheimer’s disease.
Is there a cure for dementia?
If by ‘cure’ we mean a pharmacological or non-pharmacological agent that restores pre-illness conditions, there is currently no such therapy available.
However, and this is important to emphasize, there is comprehensive care for patients and their caregivers, encompassing diagnosis, specific treatment, and ongoing support.
Disease-modifying therapies based on monoclonal antibodies, aimed at slowing the progression of symptoms, are now in use in the United States, some European countries (such as Germany), and certain Eastern countries (such as China).
What is the diagnostic process at APSS?
When a family member notices cognitive or psychiatric symptoms, they consult their general practitioner. The doctor, familiar with the patient’s history, can administer a specific test (GP-Cog) and rule out potentially treatable causes of cognitive impairment (such as vitamin deficiencies or thyroid dysfunction). They can then decide whether to refer the patient to a specialized clinic for Cognitive Disorders and Dementia (Cdcd) or consider alternative diagnoses (such as anxiety or depression, which can also present with cognitive symptoms). At the Cdcd clinic, the individual undergoes clinical evaluation and may be referred for further testing, including neuropsychological assessments, neuroimaging, and cerebrospinal fluid analysis. Each pathway is personalized.
Are services prepared to handle the increasing pressure from the expected rise in dementia cases? What can be done to prevent these diseases?
Services shouldn’t simply react to statistics. I believe there’s a need for a different approach, focusing on investment in prevention. According to a 2024 report published in The Lancet, addressing 14 recognized risk factors could prevent disease progression from MCI to dementia in 45% of cases. Factors like low educational attainment, a diet high in saturated fats, smoking, a sedentary lifestyle, and excessive alcohol consumption are all modifiable risk factors. Starting prevention efforts as early as possible, beginning in schools, would be extremely beneficial.
