News

Rate Of Dementia Expected To Triple

by Rachel Krantz

A new report released ahead of the G8 dementia summit in London (that's a thing) finds that the world is horribly underprepared for just how old we're all about to get. The rate of dementia — and Alzheimer's disease — is expected to triple by 2050. How will we deal with the fact that the entire world is about to forget it left the stove on? Apparently, not well. TIME reports:

Currently, about 44 million people are living with dementia, which includes Alzheimer’s disease, worldwide, but according to Alzheimer’s Disease International, cases of the disease could reach 135 million by 2050.
Why? Because we are living longer, and dementia generally affects the elderly. What’s troubling about the latest statistics is that by 2050, 71% of dementia patients are expected to be in middle income and poor countries, such as those in South East Asia and Africa, that are not prepared for the surge.
In a report that was released before the G8 dementia summit in London scheduled next week, the researchers say most governments are ”woefully unprepared for the dementia epidemic;” only 13 countries have raised funds and begun plans for a dementia program to accommodate the added social support and medical services needed by these patients. Already, dementia care accounts for about 1% of global gross domestic product, at $600 billion, and with more affected people, that number will only balloon.

Meanwhile, this real "lesson" on gravity is making the rounds on Reddit.

To be fair, this quiz was administered at a private religious school in Florida. But, still. Poor kids are going to be so confused in high school physics.

In very sad news, this woman live-tweeted her husbands' death.

Incoming New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is expected to name William J. Bratton to lead the New York Police Department — but don't worry, stop-and-frisk is still on its way out. And people are still angry about the Onion's stop-and-kiss video:

New York magazine asks: Who knows better what men want on OKCupid? Men, or women?

Everyone's favorite caricature Rob Ford is denying allegations that he tried to buy his own crack smoking video.

He may also want to pay attention to this new warning that smoking weed might lead to man boobs.

And finally, watch a monkey teach a man how to play his favorite game. It's. Almost. Friday.