3.1.1 Demographic Population Changes in the UK and Worldwide

3.1.1 Demographic Population Changes in the UK and Worldwide

Demographic Population Changes in the UK and Worldwide

Old age psychiatry is a subspecialty of psychiatry that focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental disorders in older adults. With an increasingly ageing population worldwide, the demand for old-age psychiatric services is expected to rise significantly. This article aims to discuss the demographic population changes in the UK and worldwide in the context of old-age psychiatry.

Demographic population changes:

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the world’s population is ageing rapidly, with the number of people aged 60 years and over expected to double by 2050 and triple by 2100 (1). This trend is also reflected in the UK, where the number of people aged 65 and over is projected to rise from 18% of the population in 2016 to almost 25% in 2046 (2).

The demographic changes in the UK are due to a combination of factors, including increased life expectancy, decreased birth rates, and the ageing of the baby boomer generation. The number of people aged 85 and over in the UK is projected to increase from 1.6 million in 2018 to 3.0 million in 2043 (2).

The increase in the ageing population has significant implications for old-age psychiatry services. Older adults are at an increased risk of developing mental health problems, including dementia, depression, and anxiety disorders. The prevalence of dementia, in particular, is expected to rise significantly, with the number of people living with dementia projected to increase from 50 million in 2018 to 152 million by 2050 (3).

Old-age psychiatry services will need to adapt to meet the changing needs of the ageing population. This includes developing new approaches to prevent, diagnose, and treat mental health problems in older adults, as well as providing support for caregivers and families.

YearUK population aged 65 and over (% of the total population)UK population aged 85 and overWorld population aged 60 and over (millions)
2016181.6 million962
2030212.5 million1,412
2046253.0 million2,106

Psychiatry demographics in old age:

With respect to mental health conditions, it is widely recognized that the prevalence of certain disorders tends to rise as people age. For instance, 5% of individuals over the age of 65 experience moderate to severe dementia, and this number increases to more than 30% for individuals over 85 years old. A recent study in England revealed a 10.2% prevalence of common mental disorder symptoms among individuals aged 65-74, and an 8.1% prevalence among those aged 75 and older.

Additional studies have highlighted a notably high occurrence of mental health issues among elderly individuals residing in assisted living facilities. Of the 80,000 individuals in the UK who passed away in care homes each year, nearly two-thirds suffer from some form of dementia. Furthermore, up to two-thirds of patients over 65 years old in general hospital wards exhibit a psychiatric condition; among these patients, 20% may experience delirium, 31% may have dementia, and 29% may be dealing with depression at any given time. Unfortunately, mental health disorders in older adults are frequently undiagnosed or misdiagnosed at the primary care level. However, research has shown significant improvements in both diagnosis and management at this level over the past ten years.

Reference:

  1. World Health Organization. Ageing and Health. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ageing-and-health
  2. Office for National Statistics. Population estimates for UK, England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Available from: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates
  3. Alzheimer’s Disease International. World Alzheimer Report 2018. Available from: https://www.alz.co.uk/research/WorldAlzheimerReport2018.pdf